MFF162 Supply and Delivery of Sphagnum Moss Plugs

Supply and delivery of a quantity of up to 18,000,000 plugs over 6 years (up to 3,000,000 per year)- over the Contract Period. It is anticipated that the requirement each year will be no less than 300,000 Plugs per annum.

1. Specification
2. Sphagnum Plugs must be supplied in whole growing plant form as Plugs. The form and method for production of Plugs must be detailed in the Tender Return.
3. Sphagnum Plugs must be grown peat-free with the exception of paludiculture, in which case a detailed method statement should be included to demonstrate how peat is used sustainably and not extracted in the production of sphagnum plugs
4. A Sphagnum Plug may consist of a single species or a mix of species. The Authority prefer a mix of species suitable for growing on blanket bog in the Peak District and South Pennines with a dominance of peat forming species as set out in the table below. The species mixes can be seen in Table 1 contained in Section 1 of the ITT.
5. The Authority will permit a tolerance of up to 5% above or below the percentages set out in Table 1 contained in Section 1 of the ITT.
6. Bidders may recommend in the Itemised Costs at Appendix 1 of the ITT other species or species mixes that in their opinion fits the Authority's requirements specified in the Specification.
7. Important peat building hummock species are preferred. However, our requirements will vary and all species/combinations of bog surface and flush species will be considered.
8. Plugs of a single species may also be considered, please detail in your Tender return which species can be provided. E.g. S. cuspidatum must form Plugs of this species only.
9. The Material must only contain Sphagnum native to the United Kingdom.
10. Plugs containing a proportion of foreign materials (e.g. soil, grass or other plant materials other than Sphagnum) as deemed inappropriate by the Nominated Officer may be rejected. The decision of the Nominated Officer shall be final.
11. A Sphagnum Plug should consist of several Sphagnum plants and have a minimum diameter of 2.5cm, and a minimum height of 5cm, and a maximum height of 12cm.
12. Propagated Sphagnum must be free from disease or pest which may be associated with growing in glass house conditions. How the absence of disease and pest will be assured should be covered in the Tenderer's Method Statement.

The list of species requirements of the sphagnum plugs is set out in Table 1 of Section 1 of the Invitation to Tender

2. Sphagnum Plug packaging
3. Sphagnum Plugs should NOT be supplied in trays.
4. Packaged Plugs should be placed into bags of a suitable size to a total weight not exceeding 10 kg. The bags should be placed into crates suitable for stacking.
5. The Sphagnum must be produced and packaged to a suitable standard to withstand:

3.1. multiple handling during the delivery process to the Delivery Site and Lift Site;

3.2. stacking multiple crates at Delivery or Lift Site;

3.3. preparation for transport;

3.4. transport of the Material by helicopter, terrestrial vehicle or hand.

4. Tenderers should specify how Plugs will be packaged/bundled in their Method Statement.

Please see Invitation to Tender for more details.

Supply and delivery of a quantity of up to 300,000 plugs over 6 years (up to 50,000 per year)- over the Contract Period. It is anticipated that the requirement each year will be no less than 10,000 Plugs per annum.

1. Specification
2. Sphagnum Plugs must be supplied in whole growing plant form as Plugs. The form and method for production of Plugs must be detailed in the Tender Return.
3. Sphagnum Plugs must be grown peat-free with the exception of paludiculture, in which case a detailed method statement should be included to demonstrate how peat is used sustainably and not extracted in the production of sphagnum plugs
4. A Sphagnum Plug may consist of a single species or a mix of species. The Authority prefer a mix of species suitable for growing on blanket bog in the Peak District and South Pennines with a dominance of peat forming species as set out in the table below. The species mixes can be seen in Table 1 contained in Section 1 of the ITT.
5. The Authority will permit a tolerance of up to 5% above or below the percentages set out in Table 1 contained in Section 1 of the ITT.
6. Bidders may recommend in the Itemised Costs at Appendix 1 of the ITT other species or species mixes that in their opinion fits the Authority's requirements specified in the Specification.
7. Important peat building hummock species are preferred. However, our requirements will vary and all species/combinations of bog surface and flush species will be considered.
8. Plugs of a single species may also be considered, please detail in your Tender return which species can be provided. E.g. S. cuspidatum must form Plugs of this species only.
9. The Material must only contain Sphagnum native to the United Kingdom.
10. Plugs containing a proportion of foreign materials (e.g. soil, grass or other plant materials other than Sphagnum) as deemed inappropriate by the Nominated Officer may be rejected. The decision of the Nominated Officer shall be final.
11. A Sphagnum Plug should consist of several Sphagnum plants and have a minimum diameter of 2.5cm, and a minimum height of 5cm, and a maximum height of 12cm.
12. Propagated Sphagnum must be free from disease or pest which may be associated with growing in glass house conditions. How the absence of disease and pest will be assured should be covered in the Tenderer's Method Statement.

The list of species requirements of the sphagnum plugs is set out in Table 1 of Section 1 of the Invitation to Tender

2. Sphagnum Plug packaging
3. Sphagnum Plugs should NOT be supplied in trays.
4. Packaged Plugs should be placed into bags of a suitable size to a total weight not exceeding 10 kg. The bags should be placed into crates suitable for stacking.
5. The Sphagnum must be produced and packaged to a suitable standard to withstand:

3.1. multiple handling during the delivery process to the Delivery Site and Lift Site;

3.2. stacking multiple crates at Delivery or Lift Site;

3.3. preparation for transport;

3.4. transport of the Material by helicopter, terrestrial vehicle or hand.

4. Tenderers should specify how Plugs will be packaged/bundled in their Method Statement.

Please see Invitation to Tender for more details.