Seed potato test plot planting and maintenance(UW-MAD)[22-5990-R1]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, located in Dane County, Madison City, is seeking a contractor to provide seed potato test plot planting and maintenance services for the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program. The procurement involves establishing and managing approximately 16.75 to 19 acres of test plots (potentially expanding to 22-24 acres), which will include planting around 600 seed potato samples of 400 tubers each. The successful contractor must supply suitable land, equipment, facilities, and labor for comprehensive agricultural services including soil preparation, planting, cultivation, fertilization, pest management, and irrigation. The University will provide the seed potatoes and oversight with two staff members, while the contractor must supply three laborers for planting and can bid additional labor for leaf picking. Key qualifications include being in the seed potato testing business for at least three years and providing three client references. The Request for Bid (RFB) was initially posted on July 21, 2021, with written questions due by July 26, 2021, and sealed bids originally due by August 2, 2021 (subsequently amended to August 12, 2021, at 2:00 PM Central Time). The contract term is set for September 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022, with potential automatic renewal for two additional one-year terms.

The University encourages participation from Wisconsin-certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Woman-Owned Businesses (WBE), and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (DVB), potentially offering a preference for qualified bids within 5 percent of the lowest bid. Bidders must submit a current W-9 form and certify they are not debarred from federal contracts. The contractor is required to maintain commercial liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 and workers' compensation insurance as mandated by Wisconsin law, with the University named as an additional insured. Award will be made to the lowest qualified bid determined to be in the University's best interest, with bid prices and terms required to remain firm for sixty days from the bid opening. The contract is subject to Wisconsin and federal law, including Buy American provisions, and all services must be performed within the United States. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the services suggests a significant annual contract value for the agricultural testing and maintenance work.