Task 1: Assist DNR Prairie Resource Center Staff – Lehigh, IA Description: Contractor must provide a post-baccalaureate staff member to assist Prairie Resource Center (PRC) staff with prairie seed processing, information gathering, and transfer of seeds and propagules from DNR PRC located at Lehigh, Iowa to contractor greenhouse facility. Contractor must establish and maintain over-winter greenhouse grown plants.; Task 2: Establish, develop, and maintain native prairie grow/field plots Description: Contractor must continue greenhouse propagation of seed provided by DNR PRC staff and establish native prairie plant species growing plots on up to 3.0 acres of appropriate soils. Contractor must then maintain native prairie plant growing plots throughout the growing season, including watering, weeding, cleaning, brushing, clearing, and other practices as directed by DNR PRC staff to encourage successful growth of prairie target species; Task 3: Harvest of prairie seed and post-harvest processing Description: Contractor must harvest or collect seed from grow plots and conduct postharvest processing, including but not limited to: seed cleaning, hammer-mill process, scarifying, cold-scarification, freeze-thaw cycles, packing, labeling, or other processes at the direction of the DNR’s PRC staff.
