Specs_for_Weed_Free_Hay_2022.pdf

Billie Thomas Contract Specialist

(406) 888-5826

Scope of Work: Yellowstone National Park requires Hay Weed Seed Free per specifications and quantity stated below. Tractor equipment will be provided by the government for offloading hay at Stephens Creek Corrals location.

Period of Performance: April 12, 2022 – September 30, 2022

SPECIFICATIONS TO MEET:

Weed Free Certification:

The Contractor shall provide a "Transportation Certificate" stating that the hay is certified free of noxious weeds and seeds.

Hay shall be identified by one of two options,

1) Each bale is tagged with tags purchased from the Department of Agriculture

2) Each bale is marked with colored hay twine purchased from the Department of Agriculture

The following weed species shall not be present in the field(s) and in the hay:

1) All Priorities 1, 2, and 3 noxious weeds covered in the Montana, Idaho and Wyoming Forage Act and Administrative Rules.

All other noxious weeds listed in the certification act must be verified but may or may not disqualify the crop.

Disqualification is a judgment made by the National Park Service following the Department of Agriculture's recommendation after the field inspection takes place. The National Park reserves the right to inspect and approve the field or fields prior to the cutting of the hay. Contractor is to notify COR or Park Representative prior to cutting as to allow for field inspection.

Hay Quality Hay shall be of high quality, as defined below, and consist of alfalfa and grass mixed hay, however hay that meets or exceeds the following standard is preferred.

• Hay shall be of high quality with no mold, green in color.

• Hay mixture shall not include more than 60 percent alfalfa or other legumes.

• Only hay cut in calendar year of delivery will be accepted.

• First cutting hay preferred but additional cuttings may be requested.

• Dusty, moldy, wet or rain damaged hay, as determined by corral operations supervisor will not be accepted and will be refused at time of delivery

• Inspection of hay may require the splitting or core samples of hay bales to determine interior mold

• Moisture content must not exceed 15%

• Hay shall not have been subjected to rain at any time without being covered with tarps or other means of weather protection, including delivery.

Alfalfa content of the hay shall be equal to or greater than the following:

• Crude protein should be equal to or greater than 14 percent.

• (ADF) shall be equal to or less than 40 percent.

• Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) shall be equal to or less than 55 percent.

• Relative feed value shall be equal to or greater than 105. The relative feed from both the digestible dry matter (DDM) and dry matter intake (DMI) contents.

Grass content of the hay shall correspond or exceed the following:

• Crude protein greater than 11 percent while the total digestible nutrients (TDN) shall be greater than

40 percent.

• The quality standards outlined above is to inform the Contractor of the quality of hay the National Park

Service may consider.

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Quality Test of Hay

• The National Park Service may require the offeror to have the hay quality tested for crude protein and relative feed value.

• The National Park may require the producer to have the hay quality tested. If requested, the Contractor shall submit a copy of the testing results, prior to delivery.

Bale Requirements Large Square Bales Shall:

• Be cut with crimper and baled with 3-strands or more of Rat and Rot-proof twine

• Weigh no less than 1150 pounds and not more than 1,800 pounds

Large Square Bales Shall Not:

• Exceed 1800 pounds per bale

• Be less than1150 pounds per bale

• Be bailed in “round bales” – round bales will be rejected

• Be ragged, have varying lengths, have wires or twine of unequal tension, or be broke

• Consist of bales that are on the top or bottom of stacks that are stored outdoors

• Show evidence of rain or water damage

Small Square Bales Shall:

• Be cut with a crimper and secured with RAT and rot-proof twine

• Weigh 70 to 80 pounds

• Width 14-16 inches, Height 18-20 inches, Length 38-42 inches

Small Square Bales Shall Not:

• Be ragged, have varying lengths, have wires or twin of unequal tension, or be broken.

• Consist of bales that are on top or bottom of stacks stored outdoors.

• Show evidence of rain or water damage

Inspection National Park Service reserves the right to inspect and approve the baled hay at stored location.

Inspection will be performed by Park Representative Corral Operations Supervisor and hay shall be rejected if product does not meet the minimum requirements of this contract. Final acceptance of hay will be upon delivery.

Certified Weight Tickets Tonnage of weed free certified hay shipments shall be established at the Contractor’s facility prior to shipment and confirmed in writing with weight tickets issued from a state certified weigh station.

• Total weight shipped by the Contractor shall be confirmed at destination (Steven Creek Corrals) by the Corrals Operation Supervisor.

• The Corrals Operation Supervisor shall be provided with State Certified Weight Tickets for each load delivered.

• The Contractor will be reimbursed for actual weight shipped.

Delivery: Please see the following attachments and link for reference included with this RFQ.

A. Attachment A - Park Map (Amended map with general vicinity of delivery locations) B. Attachment B - Oversize Load Restrictions C. Link: Yellowstone Park Road Status and Construction Projects Affecting Road Info:

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm D. Award Clauses and Provisions provided for Open Market Source Quotes https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

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The delivery schedule for Yellowstone National Park Stevens Creek must be arranged two days in advance with the Park Representative Corrals Operation Supervisor. Loads shall be delivered between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday. Any requested deviations from this time frame must be approved at least two days in advance. BPA Calls shall determine the actual delivery dates.

The contractor is responsible for ensuring that all hay is transported using standard commercial practices for the shipment of hay, transport vehicles shall be compliant with local, State and Federal regulations concerning the transport of hay.

At the time of the delivery, the contractor shall give all certification papers to the Park Representative or inspector. Weight tickets for each load shall be provided by the contractor, and weight receipts displaying loaded and unloaded weights from a state certified scale must be received by the Park Representative or COR no later than five working days after the delivery.

All loads being transported into the park interior shall be covered (tarped). This includes all trucks and trailers when loaded. The length of any unit delivering within the park shall not exceed 75 feet in total length of the unit/units. The contractor shall adhere to all roadway use regulations and posted speed limits within the park.

Hay shall be offloaded and stacked.

• Hay being delivered on US Highway 191 north of West Yellowstone does not need to be tarped.

• Hay deliveries to Stephens Creek will not need to be tarped.

• Large Square bales will only be delivered to Stephens Creek.

• Stephens Creek is the only location where equipment may be provided for unloading. Equipment may not be available, and it will be the contractor’s responsibility to provide unloading equipment.

• Large bales stacked at Stephens Creek are to be stacked twine on the side, not top and bottom.

• Stephens Creek is a locked federal quarantine facility, coordination for delivery during approved hours is imperative. Gate is locked and deliveries will not be able to access facility without coordination.

• Stephens Creek is a federal quarantine facility, contractor access is only provided to the hay facility, contractors are not to deviate to any other portion of the facility.

• Overnight stays are not allowed onsite for drivers.

USDI, National Park Service Stevens Creek Corral 259 Stevens Creek Road Gardiner, MT 59030

LIST OF EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT

1. Tractor for offloading hay at Stephens Creek Corrals location

BPA Contract Clauses: All contract provision and clauses in the parent BPA apply unless noted otherwise within this solicitation and the subsequent call.

The following clauses and provision are hereby incorporated into this solicitation and the subsequent delivery/task order. Referenced clauses and provisions may be downloaded at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ or http://farsite.hill.af.mil/.

52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)

52.245-1 Government Property (Jan 2017) http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ http://farsite.hill.af.mil/

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52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items (Oct 2014)

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Award will be made in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 to the lowest priced quote that meets the minimum requirement as stated by the specifications. Provide Quantity and description of items quoted.

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)