Notice_of_Intent_SOW_-_Temperate.pdf

USDA Risk Management Agency

STATEMENT OF WORK

For

Advisory Services for Nursery Crop Insurance Program for Temperate States

STATEMENT OF WORK

Work Statement

1 Background

The nursery crop insurance program provides crop insurance coverage to wholesale nurseries producing field grown and containerized plants. The key component of the nursery program is the Eligible Plant List and Plant Price Schedule (EPLPPS) that lists all insurable plants.

Assigned to each plant is a plant price factor and insurability specifications, including hardiness zone insurability limitations and storage protection requirements for containerized plants. The EPLPPS is updated prior to the start of each crop year to add new plants and make necessary changes to existing plant insurability and price specifications. The nursery crop year runs from June 1st to May 31st.

The insurability specifications in the EPLPPS must be accurate and comprehensive to ensure that the FCIC nursery crop insurance program provides coverage that adequately protects wholesale nursery growers without introducing undue risk exposure into the program. Because nursery plant production throughout the United States is both diverse and complex, establishment of fair and accurate insurability specifications for the nursery crop insurance program requires the expertise of a horticulture specialist operating according to insurance program rules.

The current contract for these services expires May 31, 2015.

Objectives:

To continue to review and update the EPLPPS and obtain expert technical assistance on various nursery crop insurance program issues related to field grown and containerized plant production practices, plant classification and taxonomy, hardiness zone insurability limitations, cold protection requirements, risk assessment, and plant marketing.

2 Specific Tasks:

2.1 – Temperate States

The horticulture specialist will assist RMA personnel, contractors, and other interested parties to update the EPLPPS and provide advice on nursery issues in temperate areas of the United States covered by the Springfield, IL, St. Paul, MN, Billings, MT, Topeka, KS, and Oklahoma City, OK, RMA Regional Offices (IL, IN, OH, MI, MN, WI, IA, MT, WY, ND, SD, KS, NB, CO, MO, OK, TX, NM). The contractor shall perform the following tasks as detailed below in task numbers 2.2.2(i) through (iv) in November and December of the previous crop year and 2.2.2(v) through (vi) during the current crop year:

(i) Establish appropriate cold protection requirements (storage keys) for containerized plants added to the EPLPPS. This may necessitate consultation with nursery growers and other nursery specialists as well as literature reviews.

(ii) Determine correct hardiness zone insurability limitations for containerized plants added to the EPLPPS. Separate hardiness zone insurability limitations may be established for areas where cold protection is required and areas where no protection is required. This may necessitate consultation with nursery growers and other nursery specialists as well as literature reviews.

(iii) Establish plant type classifications for new plants added to the EPLPPS.

(iv) Review and update the storage keys, plant type classifications, and hardiness zone insurability limitations for containerized plants currently listed in the EPLPPS.

(v) Advise, assist, and coordinate with RMA personnel, contractors, and other interested parties on questions and issues related to nursery plant production practices, plant classification and taxonomy, hardiness zone limitations, storage and plant protection procedures and requirements, risk assessment, wholesale marketing, and nursery crop insurance procedures.

(vi) Attend RMA and nursery industry meetings, as necessary.

3 Constraints

Contractor must possess sufficient expertise in the horticultural sciences to accurately assess and establish plant types, hardiness zone limitations, and winter storage requirements for plants that are on the Nursery Crop Insurance Eligible Plant List and Plant Price Schedule (EPLPPS) or plants that will be added to the EPLPPS. Contractor must also possess the ability to advise RMA personnel on horticultural issues related to crop insurance coverage of plants.

4 Period Of Performance

Contract Line Item Task Description Period of Performance

Base Year Nursery Program Support 6/1/15 – 5/31/16 Option Year 1 Nursery Program Support 6/1/16 – 5/31/17 Option Year 2 Nursery Program Support 6/1/17 – 5/31/18 Option Year 3 Nursery Program Support 6/1/18 – 5/31/19 Option Year 4 Nursery Program Support 6/1/19 – 5/31/20