Alfalfa Harvesting and Bagging IDIQ

Scope of Work: The USDA-Dairy Forage Research Farm at Prairie du Sac, WI is seeking quotes for alfalfa mowing, chopping, merging, bagging, and storage harvesting services for four separate cuttings of approximately 353 acres (or approximately 1,354 acres total, maximum of 1,500 acres) as well as two haylage baggings of approximately 500 feet each (or 1,000 feet total) under a firm-fixed price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a base plus four option years. The implementation of an IDIQ contract is due to the exact acreage that will be harvested and bagged being an approximation (which may need to be adjusted) and because the exact acreage that will be harvested for each of the option years will be subject to change. As such, an IDIQ is being used in case adjustments to the acreage and bagging needs be made over the term of the contract and so this adjustment can be made without major modifications being made to the contract. All quotes submitted must be issued on the attached SF 1449. Any quote not submitted on the SF 1449 will be not be accepted and will not be put into consideration for award. Background: Alfalfa is grown at the farm for silage. The cutting, chopping and storing of the alfalfa is labor intensive and requires specific farm equipment. The vendor needs to have experience with previous alfalfa harvesting to ensure that the fields and crops are not damaged. The farm has traditionally paid vendors for this service as we don’t have the personnel or large-scale equipment to perform the work ourselves. The vendor will need to coordinate specific days for the work with Scott Serwe (608-574-0711) or Paul Davis (608-640-7752) who is a University of Wisconsin employee. Paul and Scott will assess the field conditions to determine the best days for harvesting. The harvest timing will be dependent on weather. The quantity will be determined by the number of acres harvested. When forage is stored in 12ft ag bags the quantity will be determined by the foot. Technical Requirements/Tasks: Alfalfa chopping services for 4 cuttings. Approximate acreage 1st crop 295 acres, 2nd crop 353 acres, 3rd crop 353 acres, 4th crop 353 acres. These acreages may vary depending on winter survival of the crop and feed needs. Operations needed for each cutting include discbine mowing, merging of windrows, a self-propelled chopper, 3 forage trucks, packing tractor, and the personal to operate each piece of equipment for crops that are stored in a forage bunker. For crops that are stored in a 12ft Ag bag all of the above items will be needed with the addition of a 12 ft self propelled bagger. The approximate number of ft of forage bagged in a 12ft bag is around 1000Ft. The vendor must supply their own diesel fuel for their equipment. This contract needs to be quoted based on the number of acres harvested which must be confirmed with Scott before an invoice is submitted. The quote should also contain the cost per foot of putting forage in a 12Ft diameter bag. Current forage harvesting plan that is subject to change based on the farm’s needs. Need Item 1st cut: 1st crop alfalfa 295 acres. For 1st crop, forage will be stored in a forage bunker. Mowing, chopping, merging and one large packing tractor needed. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed. Harvest to be performed one week after Paul Davis or Scott Serwe indicates field conditions are ready. Estimated date to cut is May 17th-May 25th. Need Item 2nd cut: 2nd crop alfalfa 353 acres (94.2 of which will be spring seeded alfalfa) will be stored in forage bunkers. Mowing, chopping, merging and one large packing tractor needed for two days. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed for two days. Harvest to be performed one week after Paul Davis or Scott Serwe indicates field conditions are ready. Estimated date to cut will be June 17th-25th. Need Item 3rd cut: 3rd crop alfalfa 353 acres will be stored in 12ft ag bag. Mowing, chopping, merging and self-powered 12’ forage bagger. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed for two days. Harvest to be performed one week after Paul Davis or Scott Serwe indicates field conditions are ready. Estimated date to cut will be July 17th-25th 2021. Need Item 4th cut: 4th crop 353 acres alfalfa will be stored in an ag bag. Mowing, chopping, merging and self-powered 12’ forage bagger will be needed. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed. Harvest to be performed one week after Paul Davis or Scott Serwe indicates field conditions are ready. Estimated date to cut will be August 17th-25th. Government Furnished: The work will take place on 353 acres of USDA-ARS land within the Badger property in Prairie du Sac. The US Dairy Forage Farm will provide and install oxygen-limiting plastics used to line the concrete forage bunkers prior to feed storage, and provide and install bunker covers. Farm will also provide silage bags for any crop that the farm decides store in a 12ft bag. Contractor’s Key Personnel: The vendor’s personnel who perform the harvesting must have previous experience harvesting alfalfa and must be trained and certified to use the farm equipment. Security Requirements: The vendor does not require a security clearance to complete the work. The vendor must check in and out each day with Paul Davis. Travel: Then vendor will need to travel to the USDA Dairy Forage Research Farm for the days it will take to harvest the alfalfa. The vendor must provide own diesel fuel to power their equipment. Key Deliverables: Alfalfa mowing, chopping, merging, and storage harvesting services for up to 1,500 acres (with an approximate 1,354 acres spread across 4 harvests, but subject to increase/decrease). Haylage bagging of approximately 1,000 feet split between two of the four harvests or 500 feet each (the exact number of feet may be lower depending on the actual number acres harvested). Delivery: The specific schedule will be contingent on the weather and crop and field conditions. The quantity will be determined by the number of acres actually harvested. All loads of chopped alfalfa must be weighed on the farm weigh scale to determine the total amount of forage harvested. Weight recording sheets will be provided. Automatic digital weigh wagons can be used by the vendor to record weights. Approximate Service Delivery Dates: May 17th-May 25th June 17th-25th July 17th-25th August 17th-25th Please quote the base term and 4 optional years as follows: Base Year: 05/01/2021-04/30/2022 Option Year 1: 05/01/2022-04/30/2023 Option Year 2: 05/01/2023-04/30/2024 Option Year 3: 05/01/2024-04/30/2025 Option Year 4: 05/01/2025-04/30/2026 Location of the Government site is USDA-ARS Prairie du Sac, WI and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm-Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with a base and four option years.

Division 32 -

Exterior Improvements, Operation and Maintenance of Exterior Improvements, Irrigation, Planting Irrigation, Planting, Planting Preparation, Soil Preparation, Landscape Grading.