Forage

Tender description

The authority has a requirement for the supply of equine processed wood bedding (Lot 1); equine processed cardboard bedding (Lot 2); straw, roughage and produce (Lot 3); feed (Lot 4) and supplements (Lot 5) for the period 1 May 2018 for 3 years with an option for one further year, for Military Working Horses in various locations as detailed in each statement of requirement. Contractors must be able to deliver goods within 48 hours of an order being received to the required location. For guidance only, contractors might be required to make up to 3 deliveries per week during normal working hours, i.e. 0800-1600 hours during weekdays. This may rise during periods of increased tempo of operations. Deliveries may also be requested over a weekend to meet ceremonial, regimental show or operational commitments. The requirement is for bedding on which horses can be kept which has the following characteristics: — Dust free. Ventilation in the stables is minimal and so the bedding shall, as far as possible, be dust free in order to reduce the incidence of respiratory problems for both horse and soldier, — Hypoallergenic. To avoid urticarial reactions, — Hygienic. Horses in a stalled environment are prone to thrush and soft soles so the bedding shall be required to minimise this risk, — Low odour absorbent, so urine pooling does not occur, but does not become soggy when wet and flow into and clog the drainage system, — Not appetising to a horse, nor look like forage to minimise wastage, — Comfortable for a horse to lie on, — Has enough strength/integrity that it will remain in place when a horse moves its feet, rolls, or lies down and stands up or kicks out (wood shavings only), — Non-wicking so that contaminated bedding does not further contaminate the surrounding clean bedding but so that urine scalding of the feet does not occur, — Suitable for use in an open backed stall, i.e. viscous enough not to freely flow out of the stall when not walled in (wood shavings only), — Fibre length suitable for use in horses with a heavy feather and that will clod out a horse’s foot to protect it from urine scalding and droppings, — Suitable for use in all temperatures and weather conditions seen in UK, — Free of foreign objects (such as metal fragments, nails and weeds, etc.). The requirement is for bedding on which horses can be kept which has the following characteristics: — Dust free. Ventilation in the stables is minimal and so the bedding shall, as far as possible, be dust free in order to reduce the incidence of respiratory problems for both horse and soldier, — Hypoallergenic. To avoid urticarial reactions, — Hygienic. Horses in a stalled environment are prone to thrush and soft soles, so the bedding shall be required to minimise this risk, — Low odour absorbent, so urine pooling does not occur, but does not become soggy when wet and flow into and clog the drainage system, — Not appetising to a horse, nor look like forage to minimise wastage, — Comfortable for a horse to lie on, — Has enough strength/integrity that it will remain in place when a horse moves its feet, rolls, or lies down and stands up or kicks out (wood shavings only), — Non-wicking, so that contaminated bedding does not further contaminate the surrounding clean bedding but so that urine scalding of the feet does not occur, — Suitable for use in an open backed stall, i.e. viscous enough not to freely flow out of the stall when not walled in (wood shavings only), — Fibre length suitable for use in horses with a heavy feather and that will clod out a horse’s foot to protect it from urine scalding and droppings, — Suitable for use in all temperatures and weather conditions seen in UK, — Free of foreign objects (such as metal fragments, nails and weeds, etc.). Straw The preferred straw shall be wheat. Oat or Barley straw is acceptable in extremis. The Straw must be bright in colour, free from dust, mould and staining (weathered). It must be of an average length (45 cm strand length). Straw will not be mixed varieties and must be sweet, clean and dry. Above all, the straw must be free from foreign objects such as metal, rock, plastics, timber, weeds, etc. Deliveries should allow for palletised deliveries of bales of a size and of a weight no more than 25 kg, which can be reasonably handled or moved by a small fork lift truck (Hyster 250 Fork Lift 2,220 kg rating). Hay (Home Grown) The hay shall be of an average length (30 cm strand length) suitable for feeding from hay nets. It shall have been baled at a moisture level of not more than 14 %, with consequent minimal spoilage and spores production. The contractor must be able to demonstrate this by the analysis of a representative sample, taken at least one month after storage, from each separate source (i.e. from each barn or from each farm crop) and certified as good quality hay (proof of certification must be presented with each delivery to authority site(s)). It must be suitable for feeding horses without special precautions such as damping. It shall not be from the current year’s growth until after 1st October, nor over 18 months old on delivery. It shall consist of well-recognized grass species and be free of toxic and undesirable weeds and foreign bodies. No bale shall have weather beaten tops, sides or bottoms and the hay must not be mouldy, damp, dusty or stale. Deliveries should allow for palletised deliveries of bales of a size and of a weight no more than 25 kg, which can be reasonably handled or moved by a small fork lift truck (Hyster 250 Fork Lift 2,220kg rating). Haylage (Bagged Grass) The bagged grass shall be mildly fermented rye grass, free from weeds, dust and other foreign material. It shall have a high fibre content and contain low protein and energy levels. It shall be free from harmful moulding. It shall be delivered on pallets in sealed airtight bags (double wrapped to accommodate outside storage) weighing not more than 25 kg. In exception to this, the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray can accept larger bag sizes/weights if available (up to a maximum of 260 kg). Apples Shall be a minimum of Grade 2 Produce, fit for consumption with a minimum shelf life of 7 days. Deliveries shall be made in bags/boxes not exceeding 25 kg. Carrots Shall be a minimum of Grade 2 Produce, fit for consumption with a minimum shelf life of 7 days. Deliveries shall be made in bags/boxes not exceeding 25 kg. Please refer to Annex D to SC2 Schedule 2 to ArmyHQ2/00253 for specific compound mix locational requirements. Please refer to Annex E to SC2 Schedule 2 to ArmyHQ2/00253 for specific supplement requirements.