Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

THIS IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION Agricultural Research Services (ARS) is conducting market research to support the Plant Science Research Unit, Ral... THIS IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION Agricultural Research Services (ARS) is conducting market research to support the Plant Science Research Unit, Raleigh NC requirement for a corn winter nursery. The ARS is seeking business sources, including small businesses, servicedisabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, 8(a) certified companies, and other than small businesses. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 111150, Corn Farming. Small Business Size Standard is $1M. The following information is provided to assist the ARS in conducting Market Research to identify potential contractors for this effort: The government is seeking capability statements from businesses capable of meeting the below performance requirements: Contractor will provide for all field activities including land, land preparation, planting, monitoring, weed and pest control, pollination services, irrigation, fertilization, harvest and for drying and shelling if needed, phytosanitary certificate, Ag inspections, fumigation to meet APHIS standards for import/or shipping within or to the US and preparation for shipping. Contractor will provide information on containers and weight sufficient for USDA to procure shipping services via UPS or FedEx. Scientists, at their discretion, will travel to monitor progress of work. Contractor will provide brief report of crop development progress in weekly or every two-intervals prior to flowering, and photos as the crop develops. Shoot bagging and pollinations will be done according to USDA breeder’s instructions. Hand-harvesting will be done by plot when grains have dried sufficiently and the ears will be allowed to dry to approximately 12%-15% moisture. Dried ears and/or seeds will be prepared for shipping according to USDA breeder’s instructions. The USDA is responsible for providing phytosanitary certification and import permit for seed entering Mexico and for treating the seed according to requirements, and for all seed to be planted. A mid-October – early November planting will consist of 900 nursery rows comprised of: - 650 rows for cross-pollination, 6.0 m long rows planted with 26 kernels per row - 100 self-pollinated rows, 6.0 m long rows planted with 26 kernels per row - 100 self-pollinated rows, 3.0 m long rows planted with 13 kernels per row - 50 rows for cross-pollination, 3.0 m long rows planted with 13 kernels per row Ears and seed will be prepared for shipping according to USDA breeder’s instructions. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: OCTOBER 1, 2020 TO APRIL 30, 2021 Place of Performance: Central Crops Research Station 13223 US Business 70 West Clayton, NC 27520-2128 Respondents shall furnish sufficient technical information necessary for the Government to conclusively determine that they are capable of meeting the technical requirements identified above. Firms believing, they can meet the requirements are encouraged to respond electronically with no less than the following information: • Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number, and email address; • Sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates that offered services will meet or exceed above specifications; • Descriptive material necessary for the government to determine whether the service offered meets the technical requirements; • If a large business, provide if subcontracting opportunities exist for small business concerns; • Though this is not a request for quote, informational pricing is encouraged. The government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response. Interested Parties must respond with capability statements by email to keith.enoch@usda.gov on or before September 13, 2020 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Notice of Intent: Responses to this Sources Sought announcement will assist the Government in determining whether or not any future requirement similar to this one should be set aside for small business, made available to full and open competition, or procure through sole-source acquisition procedures. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in FedBizOpps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Place of Contract Performance: USDA, ARS, Plant Science Research Unit Central Crops Research Station 13223 US Business 70 West Clayton, NC 27520-2128 United States