Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work Grass Hay Small Square Bale Contract

1.0 General

1.1 Background:

The mission of the USDA-National Animal Disease Center Animal Resources unit in Ames, IA is to provide animal care and support services for internal users that rely on animal products for research, testing and training. Fresh, clean, high-quality feed is critical to support animal health and well-being of a variety of animals used in laboratory research at the USDA National Animal Disease Center in Ames, IA.

1.2 Scope of Work

The Contractor shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the tasks and deliverables described in this Statement of Work. The Contractor shall make deliveries within five (5) working days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee.

Period of Coverage: 12 months from date of award to be delivered on an as-needed basis

NOTE: Items purchased under this contract will be used to feed animals in the conduction of research. Since diet is an essential control factor necessary in the Center’s research, no substitution or deviation from the specifications is permissible without approval from the USDA. Only Clean, high-quality ingredients are to be used. Combining/Blending with like ingredients of low quality or possible contamination is not acceptable. This would include but not limited to foreign material, mold, and mycotoxins within feed ingredients.

2.0 Technical Requirements

2.1 Specifications for Grass Hay Small Square Bales

• Hay must be from calendar year 2024 or 2025 crop.

• Grass hay must be Grade No.2 or upper Grade No. 3, according to standards of the Hay

Market Task Force of America Forage and Grassland Council.

• Relative Feed Value (RFV) must be 70-110, Crude Protein of 7-14 on a dry matter basis, moisture content between 10-14%, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) less than 49% on a dry matter basis, and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) less than 65% on a dry matter basis.

• Composition of the hay is to be of no more than 60% of any one type of the following acceptable grass varieties: Orchard Grass, Brome (Smooth or Meadow), Timothy, Kentucky Bluegrass, Limestone Little Bluestem, Western Wheatgrass, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Prairie Cordgrass, Indian Grass

• Hay must be green with greater than fifty per cent (50%) leaves.

• Hay must not have any bearded grain or any forage plant containing long awns (spikelets).

• Bales must be tight, solid, uniform size and construction utilizing rot-proof twine.

• Bale weights must be uniform (within 5# of average) weight not less than 55# or more than

75#. Bale size should uniform and not be shorter than 32inches or longer than 42 inches.

• Bales must be clean (<2% foreign matter and no non-plant-based material).

• Bales must contain no matter injurious to livestock.

• Bales must be free of mold, musty odor, excessive dust/dirt, signs of insect, rodent, and/or wildlife damage.

• Hay delivered must be of consistent composition and quality throughout each load and from first to last load.

• All hay is to be harvested from fields that are not grazed or had application of ruminant animal manure. All hay should be from fields located on one farm or close proximity. All hay delivered must be of consistent quality and composition throughout each load and from first to last load.

• Price to include delivery to and unloading at place of performance.

• Quote shall include your company website address.

• Quote shall include a minimum of three (3) customer references.

• Qty: 50 ton.

NOTE: Hay that shows signs of greater than 2% foreign material, mold, musty odor, excessive dust/dirt, weeds, exposure/damage by rodents/insects/wildlife (fur, scat), moisture damage (included rain during baling), heating, discoloration, and/or significant evidence of storage in direct contact with floor (such as dirt, gravel, discoloration, moisture damage, and/or mold) is unacceptable and may be rejected.

2.2 Delivery Ticket: A delivery ticket must accompany each order (allowing for a signature of person making the delivery and signature of Government personnel receiving the delivery). The Contractor shall provide the Government with certified copies of weigh tickets of the loaded and unloaded weight from certified Weigh Station (with contractor’s name inscribed on the weigh tickets) at the time of each delivery. It is required by the ICC that both the empty and loaded weight must be obtained from the same weighing station. Delivery ticket must list number of bales in load.

2.3 Deliveries: Deliveries shall be made direct from the farm to the NADC without transfer from truck to truck or through terminals and unloaded at location specified by the NADC.

3.0 Supporting Information

3.1 Place of Delivery:

USDA, ARS, MWA, NADC, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 14, Ames, Iowa 50010.

Deliveries shall be made during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor shall make deliveries within five (5) working days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee. Deliveries will be made with clean vehicles/trailers not used in the transportation of livestock. The Contractor shall assure that the material conforms to the specifications in the contract prior to delivery. Upon delivery, at destination, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all parts of a shipment, if in the opinion of the Government, does not meet the requirements contained herein. It is requested that contractor provide notice of at least 48 hours prior to delivery.

Services will be provided at USDA, NCAH, 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA. Pick-up and delivery shall not be made on Federal Holidays or Observance of Federal Holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day). If the Monday is a Federal Holiday or the Observance of the Federal Holiday, then the delivery will be made on Tuesday of that week.

3.2 Unloading

The Contractor shall be responsible for unloading and stacking the hay in an area and manner as designated by the Government.

Acceptable Alternatives:

1-Preferred) Delivery of bales banded in bundles of not less than 14 bales/bundle or not more than 21 bales/bundle allowing for handling with skid loader . The government will mechanically unload and stack the hay in the designated storage area at no expense to the contractor.

2) Delivery of hay on semi-trailer (closed or flatbed) and leave trailer for USDA personnel to use hay as needed. Trailer to be replaced with new load of hay with no less than 25 bales remaining (Contractor responsible for unloading remaining bales).

NOTE: Any alternative method will be at NO additional cost to the government.

3.3 Storage

The successful quoter shall store the hay at no additional cost to the Government until such time as all deliveries have been made and the contract has been completed.

3.4 Inspection

The Government reserves the right to inspect the premises and origin of hay before, and at any time after the contract is consummated to assure that the hay is not being contaminated with dangerous pathogens. The Government reserves the right to make inspection of fields, barns where the hay is being stored, and the bales to determine quality and freedom from animal contaminations and also to assure that the quoter’s operations will meet conditions required.

Final inspection will be made at time of delivery to the National Animal Disease Center, and the hay must meet specifications & requirements as specified herein or it will not be accepted.

It will be required that the hay not be unloaded until inspected and approved by Government personnel. After delivery, each load of hay will have a sample sent for forage analysis at the government’s expense. Based on the results of this testing, if the load does not meet the minimum specifications, it will be subject to rejection in whole or part.

3.5 Technical Point of Contact: Stephen Sterle: Stephen.sterle@usda.gov 515-337-7248

The following rules and regulations apply to all property at the NCAH, Ames, Iowa, under the custody of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to all persons entering on such property.

Admission to Property: The campus is closed to the general public. Admission to the facility is restricted to authorized persons and approved visitors. Upon entry, visitors:

1. Will be required to present Government or other identifying credentials to the Officer at the Visitor Gate (photo driver's license, passport, or other official photo identification).

2. Will be issued a visitor's badge and must always wear and display the badge while visiting the facilities.

3. No Weapons or pets of any kind are allowed on Campus to include in vehicles.

mailto:Stephen.sterle@usda.gov