Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Introduction: The USDA ARS USMARC is in need of two separate contractors to harvest alfalfa & alfalfa grass mixture on USMARC property. Contractors to operate simultaneously in order to complete harve... Introduction: The USDA ARS USMARC is in need of two separate contractors to harvest alfalfa & alfalfa grass mixture on USMARC property. Contractors to operate simultaneously in order to complete harvest in a condensed timeframe. Contractors to be in close communication with USMARC hay crew and complete the services in the below referenced four phases. Phase I: Windrowing, equipment and labor. Windrowing methods used should be of design to facilitate drying of forage product. Work is dependent upon soil conditions and weather forecast. Multiple fields, multiple cuttings. May 10 through October 1st. Annual acres windrowed is 500 to 2200 per contractor. Price per acre. Phase II: Raking, equipment and labor. Raking designated windrowed acres. Raking to be appropriately timed to accelerate dry down of windrowed forage and to minimize time between windrowing and baling without causing excessive nutrient loss. Work is weather dependent. Multiple fields, multiple cuttings. May 10 through October 1st. Annual acres raked is 500 to 2200 per contractor. Price per acre. Phase III: Baling of designated acres, equipment and labor. Large square bales appropriately tied. 3FT X 4FT X 8FT bales. Bale weights 1400 to 1600 LB each. Efforts and decisions made in baling operation should be to ensure highest feed quality possible with existing forage conditions and weather (current and forecasted). Multiple fields, multiple cuttings. May 10 through October 1st. Total bales is yield dependent, range 1800 to 6000 bales. Price per bale. Phase IV: Bale retrieval to field edge or locations within 1.5 miles of production field. Remote bale delivery from production field locations may allow for dispensing load rapidly, USMARC crew to stack and/or store. To minimize or eliminate weather impact on bales, bale retrieval should occur simultaneously with baling operations. Price per bale.