Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: Maize Winter Nursery in Hawaii

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: The USDA, ARS, Plant Introduction Research Facility has a requirement for a corn winter nursery for increase seed production for growing between September 2023 and April 2024. The details for this planting, growing, and harvesting requirement are below. Quoters must include all associated costs and state on quotes any variances between their offered products and the provided specifications. Any resulting award from this solicitation will be a fixed price contract.

2.0 Background: Subject to local weather, soil moisture conditions, minimal disease and low insect pressure, a U.S. based location is required. Hawaii has been determined to have a location best suited for the requirement for the winter nursery required for this research. Nursery sets shall be grown within a 6-month period, beginning in September-November 2023. Nursery should be harvested and returned no later than late-April 2024.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks: Contractor will provide for all field activities including land, land preparation, planting, monitoring, weed and pest control, pollination services, irrigation, fertilization, harvest and for drying and shelling if needed; bi-weekly or monthly progress reports depending on crop development;

phytosanitary certificate; Ag inspections; fumigation to meet standards for import/or shipping within or to the US; and preparation for shipping. Contractor will provide information on containers and weight sufficient for USDA to procure shipping services via UPS or FedEx.

4.0 Government Furnished: The USDA is responsible for providing phytosanitary certification and import permit for seed entering Hawaii and for treating the seed according to requirements for all seed to be planted.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule: Contractor will provide brief report of crop development progress in weekly or every two-intervals prior to flowering, and photos as the crop develops. Shoot bagging and pollination will be done according to USDA breeder’s instructions. Hand-harvesting will be done by plot when grains have dried sufficiently, and the ears will be allowed to dry to approximately 12%-15% moisture. Dried ears and/or seeds will be prepared for shipping according to USDA breeder’s instructions.

GEM Project Winter Nursery A late-September – early November planting will consist of 825 nursery rows comprised of:

- 250 self-pollinated rows, 15-foot-long rows planted with 25 kernels per row

- 200 paired rows for cross-pollination, 15-foot-long rows planted with 25 kernels per row

- 175 sib-pollinated rows, 15-foot-long rows planted with 25 kernels per row

- 200 self-pollinated rows, 10-foot-long rows planted with 15 kernels per row

Ears and seed will be prepared for shipping according to USDA breeder’s instructions.

6.0 Data Rights: All corn nursery data collected on stand counts, plant height, and ear height, flowering, or other traits are to be returned to USDA.

7.0 Place of Performance: Hawaiian Islands of Maui, Oahu, or Kauai

8.0 Period of Performance: September 15, 2023, through April 30, 2024

9.0 Technical Point of Contact: TBD