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This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announce... This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12505B22Q0057 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-4. The associated NAICS code is 541940, Veterinary Services, with a small business size standard of $8.0 Million and the PSC code is R416. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following services: 001) White Tailed Deer Semen Collection and Cryopreservation Services Scope of Work: The USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center’s (NADC) National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) in Ames, IA is requesting quotes for white tailed deer (WTD) breeding soundness exams, semen collection, dilution, pre-freeze analysis (on and off site), cryopreservation, post-thaw analysis, straws, and travel to site. Background: The USDA NCAH Facility provides care for a herd of white tail deer that are maintained and utilized for breeding purposes. Subsequent fawns are hand reared to reduce their flight responses to humans and are utilized for a variety of research projects. This herd of approximately 30 does and approximately 7 bucks and numerous young stock comprise the herd at any given time point. In an effort to increase biosecurity in the doe herd, scientific staff request that bucks no longer be introduced to them during breeding season. Alternatively, the request is to move to utilizing artificial insemination with cryopreserved white tail buck semen. Cryopreservation of white tail deer semen and its use in the herd will further reduce the risk of transmitting unwanted yet common diseases by eliminating the introduction of the bucks to the herd each fall. Currently, the only housing location for the bucks at this time is a known location of potential disease known as Johnes disease. Efforts have been made to clean the housing location and the risk to the bucks is low and therefore, the risk to the does is low. However, the risk is still high enough that the use of frozen/thawed semen would further reduce the risk to near zero. This is requirement is to establish a contract for fall visits to complete the required tasks as detailed below. Technical Requirements: Contractor will perform the following tasks: Contractor will perform semen collection under chemical anesthesia Contractor will perform semen dilution with semen extenders Contactor will perform semen analysis both on-site and off-site to include but not limited to motility both subjective and objective, morphology and concentration Contractor will complete cryopreservation of all semen samples that qualify for this service Contractor will perform post-thaw semen analysis Semen collection and cryopreservation may be completed on any given buck up to 4 separate occasions during the breeding season. The number of times will be dependent on whether the buck’s semen qualifies for cryopreservation and the number of straws of semen produced with each collection. Period of the performance: Timeframe – Breeding Season anticipated to be between September 15, 2022 and November 30, 2022. Government Furnished: NCAH will provide: Escort to the deer handling facility. An area to process and extend the semen. Chemical anesthesia for the bucks. Any medical treatment that may be deemed appropriate during the anesthesia period. Reversal of the chemical anesthesia. Travel: Quotes should include pricing for all travel charges for completion of requirements. Contractor is responsible for travel. Contractor is required to travel to the place of performance at 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Data Rights: Semen analysis data both pre- and post-thaw semen analysis will be provided to NCAH by the vendor on each buck for each collection. Key Deliverables: Contractor will perform semen collection on seven (7) bucks up to four (4) times (with options for up to four (4) more visits plus additional straws if required): Breeding Soundness Exams WTD Semen Collection WTD Semen Dilution WTD Semen Analysis (On-Site and Off-Site) Cryopreservation of All Qualifying WTD Semen Samples WTD Post-Thaw Semen Analysis Straws (Semen Storage Unit) – 20 to 100 Per Buck per visit or 140 to 700 per visit Travel to Site Place of Performance: Services to be provided at USDA, NCAH, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Visits shall not be made on Federal Holidays or Observance of Federal Holidays. Period of Performance: Work to be completed between September 15, 2022 and November 30, 2022. Evaluation Factors: Lowest price, technically acceptable. The government intends to award a firm-fixed price award based on the lowest price technically acceptable product. The lowest priced product will be evaluated first; if not found acceptable, the next lowest priced product will be evaluated, and so on until an acceptable product is identified. The government will not review higher priced products if the lowest priced product is determined to be technically acceptable. For a vendor’s products to be considered technically acceptable, they must meet all of the technical requirements identified in the solicitation. Technical ability, ability to perform within timeframe required, pricing with technical ability and ability to perform within timeframe required more important than price Submitting a Quote: To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A contractor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register. Vendor must also include their DUNS# on their quote. The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting contract. Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote on SF1449 (see attached) and provide a written Quality Assurance Plan in response to the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan provided in the attachments to the SF1449 (between the Statement of Work and FAR Provision sections). The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please email all quotes in writing on the SF 1449 to aaron.dimeo@usda.gov by no later than Monday, March 7, 2022 at 5:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST). Note: Be absolutely certain to reference the RFQ number “12505B22Q0057” and/or title of the solicitation “White Tailed Deer Semen Collection and Cryopreservation Services” in the subject, body, and/or attachments on your submission email to ensure your submission can be located and attributed to this acquisition. Failure to do so could potentially result in your submission not being put into consideration for award (as your quote may not be located when searching the recipients email to ensure all responses to the solicitation have been logged before making an award). Questions in regards to this combined synopsis/solicitation must be submitted through email (NO calls with questions) and are due no later than 5:00 PM CST on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation.