Cone Collection SOW and Maps.pdf

ITEM

NUMBER DESCRIPTION PAY

UNIT EST QTY

Collect shortleaf pine (SLP) cones(2-3 inches long) from the end of branches on up to 80 foot SLP trees at the GRMA seed orchard in Mt Ida Arkansas. Collect cones from JGL Lifts by the bushel and put into crates placed throughout the seed orchard.

Bushel 3,000

EA - EACH

MO - MONTH

Award anticipated to be a firm fixed price contract.

FILL OUT THE AREAS IN RED BELOW

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Ouachita National Forest GRMA Seed Orchard

PROJECT TITLE: GRMA SLP Cone Collection

WORKPLAN ACQUISITION PLAN/REQUISITION NO: 715136/1156481

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Period of Performance Base Year: 09/30/2025 - 10/30/2025

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards Attachment

Project GRMA Shortleaf Pine Cone Collection

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The contractor shall provide all equipment operators, labor transportation, supplies, and perform all work necessary to pick fresh, ripe shortleaf pinecones in accordance with specifications and provisions of the contract. The shortleaf pine (SLP) cones will be collected from 8 blocks of trees on approximately 351 acres at the GRMA Seed Orchard within a 30 day period. Crews will pick the pinecones from the SLP trees using JLG lifts (rented by the Forest Service (FS) and drop the cones onto nets spread on the ground. Crews will collect cones off the nets and place them into wooden crates provided by the Forest Service. We estimate there is one pound of SLP seed per bushel and there are approximately 3,000 bushels of cones that could be harvested from the 8 blocks.

2.0 Background

The GRMA Seed Orchard on the Ouachita National Forest (OUF) consists of 690 acres. Approximately 461 acres are planted in shortleaf pine (SLP) trees. These are growing into blocks separated by grassy mowed strips and gravel roads. Each block represents the progeny of the trees (1st or 2nd generation) and the physical zone (i.e. Ouachita East vs Ouachita West). The whole site is maintained by weekly brush hogging.

The Seed Orchard Manager starts checking the SLP trees for cones starting in the spring of each year. By May 2025, it became obvious the SLP trees had more green cones developing than in previous years. In addition, rain has been plentiful during the late winter and spring. The Regional Geneticist was contacted about the developing cone crop and the decision was made to collect as many cones as possible when they mature in October. The amount of SLP seed at the USDA Forest Service Extractory in Mississippi is almost depleted.

Shortleaf pine produces a good cone crop every 3 to 6 years but this year it looks to be a bumper crop. The last year the seed orchard had a similar bumper crop was in 2003.

We estimate that approximately 4-7 Lifts with crews will be required to collect 3,000 bushels of cones on the 8 blocks within a 30-day time frame based on previous cone collection experience.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

The contractor shall provide all equipment operators for the JLG lifts, labor transportation, supplies, personal safety gear, and perform all work necessary to pick fresh, ripe shortleaf pine cones in accordance with specifications and provisions of the contract. The Contractor is responsible for the safety of the equipment operators. Cones will be picked by hand from the JGL Lifts, dropped onto nets under the trees and then picked up and placed in crates. Crates will be labeled according to which block the SLP cones are collected from. Crates of cones must be kept separate by block. The Contractor must keep track of the bushels of SLP cones collected.

All the ripe, fresh, insect-free cones on each tree must be hand-picked and placed into Forest Service supplied crates. Cones must be clean and free of foreign matter such as twigs and pine straw. Each crate holds approximately 20 bushels of SLP cones. Forest Service employees will be responsible for moving the crates – they will be moved around the seed orchard as needed during filling, they will be moved under cover at night if needed, and will be moved under cover or covered in the field during rain events. Once crates are full, Forest Service employees will inspect and remove the crates from the field. Picked cones should not remain on the ground overnight.

Time is critical in the cone collection operation. Collection cannot start until cones are ripe, i.e. the seed is mature. Then cone collection must be completed before cones start to open. This time period usually lasts approximately 30 calendar days but may vary significantly due to weather conditions. Figuring in a few days for bad weather gives a more realistic maximum collection period of 25 days. It is expected that the contractor will work 6-7 days a week and in all but extremely inclement weather.

The date work shall begin is estimated to be between September 30 and October 10, 2019. The Seed Orchard Manager will begin performing gravity tests on the SLP cones in early September. Once the tests show the seed are mature, the contractor will be notified. The Contractor shall commence operations within 3 days of notification that the cones are ready to be picked. The Contractor must insure availability for communications during this period.

Supplied crates contain approximately 20 bushels of shortleaf cones, however, the number of bushels of cones shall be measured by the contractor prior to delivery and acceptance by the government. Government employees will also inspect the crates to ensure measurement accuracy. The quantity of cones to be paid for shall be the actual number of bushels accepted as determined by the Government. The Contractor may be present during inspection and assist if the Contractor desires.

All trash and debris, generated by the Contractor during this contract shall be removed by the Contractor from Forest Service land as work progresses.

4.0 Government Furnished

The FS will provide inspectors that will be on site for the entirety of the contract. The FS will rent up to 7 JGL Lifts that can reach up to at least 80 feet and supply the fuel to operate the Lifts. The cones will be dropped onto nets provided by the FS which will be placed on the ground. Cones will be picked up and placed into wooden crates provided by the Forest Service. The FS will move the crates around the Seed Orchard as the cones are picked. The FS will also move the crates out of increment weather and move them to a covered shelter overnight if necessary. The FS will be responsible for delivering the cone-filled crates to the Mississippi Extractory.

The Forest Service shall furnish all fuel, oil, grease, repairs, and pay for any other mechanical expenses incidental to operating the equipment (JGL Lifts).

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Key Deliverables

Item No. Deliverable Objective Due 1 Proposed Project

Plan Start Cones must not be collected prior to seed ripening or after cones start opening. Work shall begin within 3 days of notification from the Seed Orchard Manager.

No later than three (3) business days after cones are ripe.

2 Weekly Status Report

Report weekly progress to the COR. The report will include the percent completion of each block of SLP trees collected from and how many bushels of cones have been crated to date.

Weekly, every Friday, by 3:00 PM central DLT until the contract expires, and a final report on the last day.

6.0 Travel

The Contractor will provide all travel, lodging, and food for their crews during the entire contract period.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Recommend that the Contractor provide two cone collectors in the bucket of each lift picking cones and at least one other person on the ground collecting the clean cones from the nets and placing them into the supplied crates. If not themselves, the Contractor will need to provide a contact person who is available daily to the Seed Orchard Manager by cell phone or in person.

8.0 Security Requirements

The Forest Service is not responsible for the security of any supplies or gear provided by the contractor. The gates into the Seed Orchard will be locked nightly.

9.0 Data Rights

Not Applicable

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards Not Applicable

Attachment 2 Maps – one is a vicinity map, the second shows how the trees are laid out and named in blocks at the Seed Orchard.