Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: Corn Isolated Crossing Blocks and Breeding Nursery

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: The USDA, ARS Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) Project of the Plant Introduction Research Unit (PIRU) has a requirement for eight corn isolated crossing blocks for production of topcross (hybrid) seed and two hand pollinated corn breeding nurseries for growing between May 2023 and November 2023.

2.0 Background: Subject to local weather, soil moisture conditions, minimal disease, and low insect pressure, a central corn belt location is required. Central Illinois and central Iowa have been determined to be locations best suited for the requirement for the isolated crossing blocks and hand pollinated nursery planting required for this research. All isolations and nurseries shall be grown within a 6-month period beginning in May 2023 to be harvested and returned in approximately November 2023.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks: Tasks and requirements that the contractor must provide are as listed below.

o Contractor will provide all field activities including Land for eight isolated crossing fields Land for two hand pollinated corn breeding nurseries Land located in either central Illinois or central Iowa Land preparation (tillage) Fertilization Weed and pest control Harvest o Field Isolation Requirements

Minimum of 500 feet separation of each isolation from other corn.

Female rows planted in 12-foot plot rows with 20-24 kernels per row.

Detassel female plot rows prior to pollen shed.

Isolated field to accommodate numbers of female entries as listed below.

- Isolation 1: 1,124 female rows

- Isolation 2: 1,048 female rows

- Isolation 3: 1,036 female rows

- Isolation 4: 1,000 female rows

- Isolation 5: 900 female rows

- Isolation 6: 900 female rows

- Isolation 7: 800 female rows

- Isolation 8: 400 female rows

Male:Female Planting Pattern and Delays

- Male-female planting pattern of 4:4

- First male row planted 100-150 growing degree units (GDU) before female entries are planted

- Second and third male rows planted at same time as female entries

- Fourth male row planted 100-150 GDU after females are planted

- Monitor male rows for off-type plants and remove before pollen shed

- Isolation crossing field must be bordered on each side by 4 rows of male o Hand Pollinated Selfing Nursery Self-pollinated nursery planted in 12-ft plot rows with 18 kernels per row Nursery field to accommodate the number of plot rows listed below.

- 760 plot rows Shoot bag top ear shoot of each plant Self-pollinate all possible plants o Hand Pollinated Paired Row Crossing Nursery and Delays

Cross pollinated nursery planted in 12-ft plot rows with 18 kernels per row Nursery field to accommodate the number plot rows listed below

- 150 plot rows Delayed plot rows planted based on grow degree unit (GDU) delay requested.

Number of delayed plot rows listed below.

- 50 delay plot rows

Shoot bag top ear shoot of each plant Cross pollinated all possible plants between pairs o Harvest Timing

Plot rows are harvested individually by row ID Plot rows are harvested when latest entries reach ¾ mile line seed development o Seed Drying Ears dried using forced air heat not to exceed 950 F Ears dried to approximately 12% moisture o Shipping Preparation

Dried seed in harvest bags to be boxed and prepared for freight shipment Contractor will provide information on containers and weigh sufficient for

USDA to procure shipping services.

Seed generated on GEM-Ames plot rows will be shipped to:

USDA-ARS-NCRPIS

1305 State Ave.

Ames, IA 50014

Seed generated on GEM-Raleigh plot rows will be shipped to:

USDA-ARS

13223 US Business 70 West Clayton, NC 27520-2128

4.0 Government Furnished: The USDA, ARS GEM Project will furnish the items listed below.

o Male seedstock for each of six isolated crossing fields o Packeted female seed in 2.5” wide packets. Each packet numbered and counted at 20k to 24k per packet for isolation female plot rows and 18k per packet for hand-pollinated nursery plot rows.

o Mesh harvest bags o Row band harvest tags for each entry o Shipping to:

USDA-ARS-NCRPIS, 1305 State Ave., Ames, IA 50014 for GEM-Ames generated materials.

USDA-ARS, 13223 US Business 70 West, Clayton, NC 27520-2128 for GEM-Raleigh generated materials.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

o Fields to be planted as close to May 1, 2023 as conditions allow and no later than June 10, 2023.

o Written report of project status, crop development, and field condition for each isolation sent to adam.vanous@usda.gov every 2 weeks after planting.

o Male rows to be monitored for off-type plants and these plants removed every 10-14 days until pollination is completed.

o Tassel removal (detasseling) of female plot rows to start as soon as tassels are seen in these rows and before first plants silk.

o Harvested material are to be carefully boxed for commercial shipping back to Ames, Iowa and Raleigh, North Carolina with information communicated by email to adam.vanous@usda.gov by November 15.

6.0 Period of Performance: May 16, 2023, through November 30, 2023

7.0 Evaluation Factors: Technical acceptability and price, with technical acceptability more important than price.

mailto:adam.vanous@usda.gov mailto:adam.vanous@usda.gov