F -- GROWING TREE SEEDLINGS

Notice Date

October 4, 2001

Contracting Office

USDA Forest Service, Room 710 N, Procurement & Property, 1720 Peachtree Rd, NW, Atlanta GA 30367-9102

ZIP Code

30367-9102

Solicitation Number

R8-02-01

Response Due

October 19, 2001

Point of Contact

Sherri Jenkins, 404-347-2715

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation R8-02-01 is issued by the USDA Forest Service as a Request for Quotes. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses and provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-27. There is no set-aside for this solicitation. NAICS 111421 General Specifications for Hardwood Tree Seedling Production Statement of Work: The purpose of this solicitation is to secure the production of hardwood seedlings for genetic evaluation purposes to meet the needs of the Region 8 Genetic Resources Management Program and USFS research plantings. The objective of this work is to grow high quality (large) northern red oak and white oak seedlings in compliance with a defined scientific nursery protocol that will allow and accentuate expression of genetic characteristics of the seedlings. Seedlings meeting the highest quality standards will be planted into seedling seed orchards and oak mast evaluation trials. All seedlings produced shall be 1-0 bareroot seedlings. The Forest Service will deliver acorns to the nursery by commercial carrier between November 1 and December 1 annually. Each seedlot will have approximately 500 acorns that have been collected from wild forest trees. The species mix in any particular year will be dependent on acorn crops in Southern Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Acorns will have been floated at time of collection to remove damaged and poorly developed seed. No other testing or quality evaluations will be performed. Depending on acorn availability, up to 100 seedlots may be supplied annually. If conditions do not allow for the collection of 25 or more seedlots, no seed will be delivered and the contract shall be terminated for that year. Contactor shall sow acorns within 5 days after delivery. Contractor shall maintain identity of all seedlots through all stages of the process. Contractor shall grow and culture seedlings to the nursery protocol and standards developed and published by Dr. Paul Kormanik of the USDA-Forest Service Southern Research Station at Athens, GA. No top clipping or undercutting of seedlings will be allowed. Contractor shall hand lift and deliver seedlings to his processing facility on a seedloot by seedlot basis. Forest Service personnel will sort, grade, and root prune seedlings grown under this solicitation. Careful coordination of the lifting and packing operations will be required to insure that seedling root exposure to unfavorable environmental conditions is kept to a minimum. Contractor shall provide bags, equipment and personnel to for closure of seedling bags. Lifting and packing shall be preformed between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 each year. Contractor shall store seedlings in cold storage and assist with loading of seedlings to Forest Service furnished seedling delivery vehicles. Location and Description: Services are to be performed within 175 miles of the Southern Research Stations Institute of Tree Root Biology located in Athens, GA. Contract Time: The estimated time of performance for this contract is annually beginning on November 1, 2001 and will extend for 15 months until April 1 of the succeeding year. The contract will also include provisions permitting the Government to exercise an annual option to extend the contract to cover Fiscal Year (FY) 2003, FY 2004 and FY 2005. Government-Furnished Property: The Government will provide the following items of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. The property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with provision of the "Government Property" Clause. 1. Tree seed-Acorns, maximum 100 seedlots, maximum 500 seed/seedlot. Contractor-Furnished Service, Supplies, and Equipment: 1. Contractor shall supply all materials, labor, and equipment necessary for the commercial production of high quality hardwood seedlings. Production facilities includes facilities for cold storage of seed and seedlings as well as a fully equipped packing and grading facility that can be used by Forest Service personnel during the lifting and packing process. Quantities: Quantities grown each year will vary with the amount and quality of the acorn crop that is available. The maximum number of seedlots to be grown in any year will be 100. Minimum number of seedlots shall be 25. If 25 seedlots of the appropriate species and geographic source are not collected, no seedlings will be grown. Maximum number of seed per seedlot will be 500. Acorns will be collected from wild trees scattered across the National Forests in the Southern Appalachians and in the Ozarks. Species: The species to be grown are northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Quercus alba). The amounts of each species will be variable each year depending on the availability of acorns in specific areas. The species composition will not be known until after the acorns are collected. Type and Age Class: All seedlings will be bareroot and 1-0 age class. Seedling shall be grown to the cultural protocol developed by Forest Service Research. Cultural treatments require modification based on environmental conditions and crop development. Target Seedlings: Minimum northern red oak seedlings shall have a 9 mm root collar diameter measured one inch above the root collar. If there is significant root swell, diameter will be measured above the swell. Minimum height will be 1.2 meters measured from the root collar to the tip of the terminal bud. Acceptable seedlings will have a minimum of 5 first order lateral roots at least 1 mm in diameter at the proximal end. Minimum white oak seedlings shall have an 8 mm root collar diameter measured one inch above the root collar. If there is significant root swell, diameter will be measured above the swell. Minimum height will be .8 meters measured from the root collar to the tip of the terminal bud. Acceptable seedlings will have a minimum of 3 first order lateral roots at least 1 mm in diameter at the proximal end. Sowing date: All seed will be sown in the fall within two weeks of seed delivery. Normally seed collection is complete by November 15. Commercial carrier will deliver the acorns when collection is completed on the Ranger Districts. Seed may come from as many as 10 Ranger Districts. Seedlot Identity: Seedlot identity will be maintained throughout the sowing, growing, lifting, packing, and shipping process. The original seedlot number will be retained throughout the process. Documented procedures insuring the integrity and identity of the seedlots acceptable to the USFS must be provided prior to award of contract. Sowing Practices: Seed shall be hand sown to attain a target density of 6 to 8 seedlings per square foot of nursery bed. A minimum three-foot unplanted space will be retained between seedlots. Fertility practices: Seedling beds will be established and maintained to the fertility levels developed and published by Dr. Paul Kormanik. Contractor shall provide current soil tests of the area to be planted prior to award of contract. Irrigation Practices: Nursery beds shall be irrigated based on recommendations developed and published by Dr. Paul Kormanik. Soil moisture will be monitored by tensiometer. Tensiometer readings and irrigation schedules shall be recorded and made available for inspection by USFS. Cultural Practices: Due to the nature of the evaluations, undercutting and top clipping of seedlings will not be allowed. Horizontal root pruning is acceptable immediately before lifting. Lifting: Seedlings shall be lifted in coordination with Forest Service personnel to keep seedling exposure to a minimum between the lifting and cold storage. Seedlings shall be horizontally root pruned to a minimum of 1 foot at lifting. Seedlings shall be hand lifted from beds and placed into lifting boxes or on pallets. Roots shall be protected with wet burlap during the transport to the processing facility. Seedling Processing: Contractor shall furnish a suitable building with equipment for grading, root pruning, bundling, and packing. Contractor shall furnish large containers of fresh water suitable for dunking seedlings for washing residual soil from the roots prior to seedling grading. Forest Service personnel shall perform grading, root pruning, measurements, and seedling tagging. Cull seedlings shall be destroyed and will not be sold to others. Contractor shall furnish suitable bags, strapping machines, materials and personnel for closing bags. Seedling roots shall be treated with gel slurry prior to bag closure. Seedling processing shall be performed between February 1 and March 1. Actual processing dates will be determined by weather conditions and availability of planting sites. Seedling Storage: Contractor shall provide cold storage facilities for storing seedlings from time of lifting to a maximum of 6 weeks after lifting. Seedling bags must be stored on pallets with adequate air spaces between pallets to insure uniform cooling. Cooler shall be capable of maintaining temperatures between 34 degrees F and 38 degrees F. Seedling Shipping: Forest Service will provide seedling shipping. Quoters shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3 Offerors-Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. FAR 52.212-2 carries the following addendum: The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers using a process called Choosing by advantages: technical, past performance and price. Technical factors include the demonstrated capability to meet or exceed the minimum required for both meeting and lodging rooms. Award will be made on a best value basis. FAR 212-4 contract Terms and Conditions applies. FAR 52.212-5 contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Order-Commercial Item applies and includes FAR clauses 52-222-25, 52.222-26, 52.222-36 and 52.222-37. A copy of the provisions referenced may be obtained upon request by contacting Sherri Jenkins at 404-347-4866. Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to Sherri Jenkins, at number above. Quotes should be mailed to US Forest Service, Attn: Sherri Jenkins, 1720 Peachtree Road NW, Suite 876 South, Atlanta, GA 30309. Mark outside of envelope with R8-02-01. Quotes are due by 2:00 P.M. October 19, 2001, local time at place of opening.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011009/FSOL002.HTM (W-277 SN510066)