Statment of Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: GEM Isolated Crossing Seed Production

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 six corn isolated crossing blocks for production of topcross (hybrid) seed for growing between May 2022 and November 2022.

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 block planting required for this research. All isolations shall be grown within a 6-month period beginning in May 2022 to be harvested and returned in approximately November 2022.

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 six isolated crossing fields Land located in either central Illinois or central Iowa Land preparation (tillage) Fertilization Weed and pest control Planting

- Female plot rows planted in 12-foot plot rows Monitoring male rows for off type plants and their removal Detasseling of female entries prior to pollen shed Harvest o Field Isolation Requirements

Minimum of 500 feet separation of each isolation from other corn Isolated field to accommodate numbers of female entries as listed below.

- Isolation 1: 500 female plot rows

- Isolation 2: 500 female plot rows

- Isolation 3: 500 female plot rows

- Isolation 4: 1,488 female plot rows

- Isolation 5: 1,636 female plot rows

- Isolation 6: 300 female plot rows o 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 Isolated crossing field must be bordered on each side by 4 rows of male.

o Harvest Timing Female plot rows are harvested individually by row ID Female 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 will be shipped to:

USDA-ARS-NCRPIS

1305 State Ave.

Ames, IA 50014

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.

o Mesh harvest bags.

o Row band harvest tags for each entry.

o Shipping to USDA-ARS-NCRPIS, 1305 State Ave., Ames, IA 50014

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

o Fields to be planted as close to May 1, 2022 as conditions allow and no later than June 10, 2022.

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 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 information communicated by email to adam.vanous@usda.gov by November 15.

6.0 Period of Performance: May 1, 2022, through November 30, 2022 mailto:adam.vanous@usda.gov mailto:adam.vanous@usda.gov

7.0 Technical Point of Contact:

Adam Vanous 515-231-3517 adam.vanous@usda.gov mailto:adam.vanous@usda.gov