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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 12505B22Q0184 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-6. The associated NAICS code is 111140, Wheat Farming, with a small business size standard of $1.0 Million and the PSC code is 8710. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following product: 001) LARGE Square Straw Bales IDIQ Scope of Work: The USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA is requesting quotes for large square straw bales. Large Square Straw Bales IDIQ Contract for Animal Resources Unit of USDA Laboratory. IDIQ Contract Period of Coverage: 12 months from date of award. Anticipated usage not to exceed 200 ton. Background: The mission of the USDA-National Animal Disease Center Animal Resources unit in Ames, IA is to provide animal care and support services for internal users that rely in animal products for research, testing and training. Fresh, clean, high quality straw large bales are required for daily care and ensuring of animal well-being of a variety of animals used in laboratory research at the USDA Laboratories in Ames, IA. Technical Requirements: SPECIFICATIONS FOR LARGE SQUARE STRAW BALES The straw shall be US Grade No. 1, wheat or oat straw in accordance with the “Handbook of Official Hay & Straw Standards”, revised effective July 1, 1949, of the United States Department of Agriculture, Production and Marketing Administration, Grain Division. The straw must be from year 2021 or 2022 crop and meet the specifications listed below. No straw will be accepted that is of poor construction, moldy, weathered, weedy, wet, or shows evidence of storage on dirt floor. Straw shall not contain foreign material that may be injurious to livestock. The straw shall be satisfactorily baled with rot-proof twine making a 3’ X 3’ X 8’, 3’ X 4’ X 8’, or a 4’ X 4’ X 8’ bale. Bales that are ragged or bales having twine of unequal tension, which makes it difficult to handle, will not be acceptable. ROUND BALES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. DELIVERIES The Contractor shall provide all resourced necessary to accomplish the tasks and deliverables described in the Statement of Work. Delivery shall be direct from fields or barns via clean vehicles not used for transportation of livestock. Shipment by rail is not acceptable. Deliveries shall be made to: USDA, ARS, MWA, NADC, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, Iowa 50010. Deliveries shall be made during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor shall make deliveries within five (5) working days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee. Partial deliveries of a minimum quantity may be requested. Contractor to confirm delivery timeline within 3 business days of placement of order. It is requested that contractor call (515) 337-7248 at least 48 hours prior to delivery. It is required by the ICC that both the empty and loaded weight must be obtained from the same weighing station. The Contractor shall provide the Government with a certified copy of the loaded weight ticket at the time of each delivery, which must be obtained at an Official Weighing Station with the firm’s name inscribed on the weigh ticket. A DELIVERY TICKET must accompany the weigh ticket also, allowing for a signature of a person making the delivery and a signature of government personnel receiving the hay. The delivery ticket must list the number of bales per load. The Government will be responsible for unloading the bales from the vendor’s vehicle and stacking the bales in an area designated by the Government. STORAGE If the straw is not delivered directly from the field the successful quoter shall store the straw at no additional cost to the Government until such time as all deliveries have been made and the contract has been completed. INSPECTION The Government reserves the right to inspect the premises and origin of straw before, and at any time after the contract is consummated to assure that the straw is not being contaminated with dangerous pathogens. The Government reserves the right to make inspection of fields and barns where the straw is being stored, and the bales to determine quality and freedom from animal contaminations and also to assure that the quoter’s operations will meet conditions required. Final inspection will be made at time of delivery to the National Animal Disease Center, and the straw must meet specifications & requirements as specified herein or it will not be accepted. It will be required that the straw not be unloaded until inspected and approved by Government personnel. NOTE: Items purchased under this contract will be used to care for animals in the conduction of research. No substitution or deviation from the specifications is permissible without approval from the USDA. Only Clean, high-quality ingredients are to be used. Combining/Blending with like ingredients of low quality or possible contamination is not acceptable. This would include but not limited to mold and mycotoxins within feed ingredients. Government Furnished: Contractor will require state-issued identification to gain access to the facility for escorted delivery to the straw storage building. The following rules and regulations apply to all property at the NCAH, Ames, Iowa, under the custody of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to all persons entering on such property. Admission to Property: The campus is closed to the general public. Admission to the facility is restricted to authorized persons and approved visitors. Upon entry, visitors: Will be required to present Government or other identifying credentials to the Officer at the Visitor Gate (photo driver’s license, passport, or other official photo identification). Will be issued a visitor’s badge and must wear and display the badge at all times while visiting the facilities. Key Deliverables: Up to 200 tons of LARGE square straw bales. Delivery: Delivery shall be direct from fields or barns via clean vehicles not used for transportation of livestock. Shipment by rail is not acceptable. Deliveries shall be made to: USDA, ARS, MWA, NADC, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, Iowa 50010. Deliveries shall be made during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor shall make deliveries within five (5) working days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee. Partial deliveries of a minimum quantity may be requested. It will be requested that contractor call 515-337-7248 prior to delivery. If the Monday is a Federal Holiday or the Observance of the Federal Holiday, then the delivery will be made on Tuesday of that week. IDIQ Contract Period of Coverage: 12 months from date of award. The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination. Location of the Government site is aboard Ames, IA and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Evaluation Factors: The basis for award will be Lowest Price, Technically acceptable. The Government intends to make a single Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) quote received. "LPTA" means the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable quote with the lowest evaluated price. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, the criteria for evaluation are: (1) Price; (2) Technical Requirements. The lowest priced quote will be evaluated first; if NOT found acceptable, the next lowest priced quote will be evaluated, and so on until a technically acceptable quote is identified. The government will NOT review higher priced quotes if the lowest priced quote is determined to be technically acceptable. For quoted products to be considered technically acceptable, they must meet ALL of the technical requirements identified in this solicitation. Submitting a Quote: Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-1. The applicable FAR clauses and provisions that apply to this acquisition are included with the attached quote submission form (SF1449). The Government anticipates award of one Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. 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 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required in order to register. Vendor must also include their UEI# on their quote. The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, contractors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting award. Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote on SF1449 (see attached) and provide completed FAR clauses and provisions. The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. Failure to demonstrate compliance will constitute sufficient cause to reject a quote without further discussions. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be put into considered for award. Questions in regards to this combined synopsis/solicitation must be submitted through email (NO calls with questions will be accepted) and are due by NO later than 5:00 PM CT on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation. No questions will be answered after this date unless determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted (NO phone calls or quotes submitted by USPS mail will be accepted). Please email all quotes in writing on the SF1449 with completed FAR clauses and provisions to aaron.dimeo@usda.gov by NO later than Monday August 15, 2022 at 5:00 PM Central Time (CT). Note: Be absolutely certain to reference the RFQ number “12505B22Q0184” and/or title of the solicitation “LARGE Square Straw Bales IDIQ” in the subject, body, and/or attachments on your quote submission email to ensure your submission can be located and attributed to this solicitation. Failure to do so could potentially result in your submission being deemed “unresponsive” and as a result your quote may NOT be 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 determination).