Statement of Work.pdf

Project: Winter nursery services.

Part 1: General Information

A. Introduction –

The researcher has soybean seeds produced for research purposes in the US each summer. The research materials need to be planted and analyzed through another one or two generation to produce seeds, and growth chambers or greenhouse conditions are not appropriate for the research needs. Winter nursery services are required to cycle soybeans through additional generations and return plant and seed samples to the US for further analysis or planting.

B. Background –

Winter nursery services are an important part of the research performed by the Plant Genetics Research unit. These services allow for seed planting, harvesting, etc. to continue during the winter months in Missouri. There are multiple ongoing projects that benefit from these services.

The objective is to be able to continue ongoing research without having to stop during the winter months. This is essential to the research and data collection that the researchers use.

C. Scope -

In late September or early October each year, researcher would ship 100-300 packets of soybean seed. Each packet will contain ~1-35 seed. Each packet would then have each seed planted, identified, and maintained separately. Seeds would then go through one cycle of advancement under natural lighting. Some packets require winter nursery to make samples from leaf tissue on provided DNA cards to ship to arrive in Columbia, MO no later than the end of December. A USDA-ARS researcher will be in regular communication to determine if any plants should be culled. Other packets require winter nursery to make cross pollinations of plants grown under lights. At plant maturity, winter nursey would single plant thresh each plant individually and label with the identifying plant number. A USDA-ARS researcher will determine if harvested seeds should be replanted into rows or shipped immediately back to Columbia, MO.

Another project will require winter nursery personnel to conduct plant tagging and sampling plants prior to plants flowering, and retagging selected samples. The quote should include all inspections, shipping and miscellaneous costs required for completion of the project once seed has been received by winter nursery.

D. Applicable Documents

Part II: Work Requirement

A. Location-All projects must be performed with natural lighting for field locations at latitudes between 8 and 12 degrees north of the equator, with irrigation and artificial lighting available.

Advance projects (Projects Q, 1, 2, 3, and 4)-Advance soybean seeds and return selected plants to USDA/ARS. Every seed should be planted in trays under natural lighting, giving a plant number to each seed. Seedlings should be transplanted to individual pots with plant ID number.

A young leaf from each plant should be sampled for DNA on provided sample cards and shipped back to ARS. When mature, each plant should be harvested with all seeds put into a packet with the plant ID number. ARS will communicate which seeds should be shipped back to the US and which should undergo a second cycle of growth. If a second cycle of growth is required, plots representing each harvested cycle 1 plant should be planted by early February and irrigated to ensure adequate plant development to produce at least 20 seeds per plant. Depending on the project, up to 2000 individual plants in selected rows should be tagged and sampled for DNA on provided sample cards and shipped back to ARS by mid-March. ARS will communicate which plants should be retagged for selection and harvest. For other projects, instructions for harvest of second cycle plant rows could be pod picked or bulk harvested by row.

Crossing project (Project 5)-Plant provided “male” marked seeds in trays under natural lights, keeping plant ID number, and transplant to pots placed under artificial lights. A young leaf from each plant should be sampled for DNA on provided sample cards and shipped back to ARS. Plant provided “female” marked seeds in rows in three separate plantings 10 days apart under artificial lights. Perform soybean cross-pollinations between male and female plants. Attempt at least 30 hybridizations for the cross and return potential F1 seeds plus 3 single plant threshes of each parent line.

This requirement is for a base year with 4 option years. Project period of performance should be approximately 02/15/2022-02/14/2027.

Base Year, approximately 02/15/2022 – 02/14/2023

Option Year 1, approximately 02/15/2023 – 02/14/2024

Option Year 2, approximately 02/15/2024 – 02/14/2025

Option Year 3, approximately 02/15/2025 – 02/14/2026

Option Year 4, approximately 02/15/2026 – 02/14/2027

A. Deliverables

Item No.

Deliverable

Objective

Due

1 Sample cards Ship plant sample cards back to Columbia, MO USA

December 31, annually

2 Cycle 1 seeds Ship harvested seeds from single plants

March 1, annually

3 Produced F1 seeds Ship hybridized seed from crossing March 31, annually Cycle 2 initiated Plant selected cycle 1 seeds February 7, annually 4 Cycle 2 seed selections Ship harvested seeds from single plants

May 15, annually

5 Cycle 2 seeds bulk Ship harvested seeds in bulk or pod picks

May 15, annually