87--Bare Root Seedlings

Sources Sought - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon, has a requirement to obtain bare root seedlings for the Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Richland Washington. The only known native plant nursery that identifies the source of their plant stock is Fourth Corner Nurseries of Bellingham Washington. Should no responses be received against this sources sought notice by April 17, 2007, this synopsis action will be considered the notice of intent to procure subject requirements by other than full and open competition IAW FAR 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Technical point of contact is Heidi Newsome at +1 (555) 000-0000 and Contracting point of contact is Karl Lautzenheiser at +1 (555) 000-0000. Applicable NAICS Code is 111421. The statement of work for this requirement is as follows: Background: The Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Columbia Basin Ecoregion of Eastern Washington State. This ecoregion is in the "rain shadow" of the Cascade Mountains and is the hottest and driest part of the State. Rainfall values for the area average 6" annually. Temperatures often exceed 90o F during the summer, while winter temperatures hover near freezing, and have been recorded as low as -23o F.. Windy, drying conditions are normal for the region. Soils are alluvial deposits from ice age lakes, and river channels. Soils tend to be sandy, with little organic material, and do not generally retain significant moisture. Due to these conditions, plant materials adapted to the site conditions are essential for restoration purposes. Plant materials derived from the local ecoregion will have a competitive advantage during establishment and have a higher probability of survival once established, than material that is not from the local ecoregion. Plant Materials: o Seed source for growing plant material should be Hanford, Columbia Basin Ecoregion, or Eastern Washington derived. The Columbia Basin Ecoregion is defined as that area of land and associated plant communities that lie in and around the Columbia River basin of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Seeds that produced plant materials must have their origin in this area, unless otherwise cleared through the staff of the Monument. o All plants produced must be source identified to the areas listed above. o Shrubs may be grown as bareroot stock in nursery beds, or as container stock in 10" tublings. o Plants must be a minimum age of 5 months old. o Bare root stock will vary in age, size and height depending upon plant species desired please refer to page 2 for individual specifications for specific species. o Container stock roots should completely fill the containers o Plants should be cold hardened for dormancy prior to delivery. The FOB is Benton County, Washington, at the U.S.F.W.S. office 3250 Port of Benton Blvd. Richland, Washington 99354. The approximate expected Delivery date is between 26 November and 10 December, 2006. Return of any containers/shipping cartons must be specified in bid with cost of return to be born by successful bidder. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR Native Shrub Plant Material Requirements Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Page 2 Plant Materials continued: Species Specific Information: Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) seedlings bare root stock, 2-0, 18-36" Black Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) seedlings bare root stock, 1-0, 18-36" Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) seedlings bare root stock, 2-0, 18-36" Golden currant (Ribes aureum) seedlings bare root stock, 1-0, 12-18" Wax currant (Ribes cereum) seedlings, bare root stock, 1-0, 12-18" Wood's rose (Rosa woodsii) seedlings bare root stock, 1-0, 12-18" Pacific Willow (Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra) seedlings bare root stock, 2-0, 18-36" Coyote Willow (Salix exigua) seedlings bare root stock, 1-0, 12-18" Western Clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) seedlings, 1-0, 12-18" " Some species, ages, sizes, and heights can be modified to meet numbers of plants desired with approval by the staff of the Monument. However, bidders should at least be generally confident that they can meet the desired quantities of each species (within +/- 250 plants per thousand) before making any substitutions.