Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Amendment 1: This amendment extends the solicitation closing date to 6/14/2023 at 2pm CT and incorporates the attached Questions and Answers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. *********... Amendment 1: This amendment extends the solicitation closing date to 6/14/2023 at 2pm CT and incorporates the attached Questions and Answers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. ***************************************************************************************** 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 12505B23Q0136 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-02 Effective March 16, 2022. This solicitation is a Total Small Business set aside. The associated NAICS code is 541714 (Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)), with a small business size standard of 1000 employees. This acquisition is for the following item as identified in the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN): Library Sequencing, 1 job $__________________ Description of Work: The Contractor shall provide all plant, labor, transportation, material, tools, equipment, appliances, and supervision necessary for Library Sequencing in accordance with the Statement of Work. The Contractor shall provide all items F.O.B. destination. Location of the Government site is aboard PSRU USDA-ARS-PSU, 411 BORLAUG HALL 1991 UPPER BUFORD CIRCLE ST. PAUL, MN 55108 and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract. Period of Performance is 90 days after the date of award. Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their proposal in accordance with FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Submission of proposal shall include the following: (1) Technical and (2) Price. All responses shall be submitted electronically to melissa.grice@usda.gov The basis for award is Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). LPTA means the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, the criteria for evaluation are: (1) Technical and (2) Price and must also have satisfactory Past Performance. Technical acceptability will be evaluated based on company experience (minimum of 5 years’ experience providing services as described in the Statement of Work). The lowest priced proposal will first be evaluated for technical acceptability in accordance with the minimum specifications identified. If determined not technically acceptable, it will be removed from competition and the next lowest priced proposal will be evaluated for technical acceptability. This will continue until the lowest price proposal is determined technically acceptable. Once the lowest priced proposal is determined technically acceptable, then a determination of responsibility will be completed. If found responsible, evaluations will be closed and award will be made. INSPECTON AND ACCEPTANCE TERMS: Services will be inspected by Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and accepted at destination. Reference the attached Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Department of Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) provisions and clauses that apply to this acquisition. Contractors shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, with their offer. To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time the quote is submitted. A contractor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A SAM UEI number is required in order to register. All invoices shall be submitted electronically. Quotes must be received no later than 2:00 PM Central Time on June 14, 2023. DISCLAIMER: The official contract documents are located on the government webpage and the Government is not liable for information furnished by any other source. Amendments, if/when issued will be posted to Contract Opportunities for electronic downloading. This will normally be the only method of distributing amendments prior to closing; therefore, it is the offeror's responsibility to check the website periodically for any amendments to this solicitation. Websites are occasionally inaccessible, due to various reasons. The Government is not responsible for any loss of internet connectivity or for an offeror's inability to access the documents posted on the referenced web pages. The Government will not issue paper copies. Biobased Products: This procurement requires the use of Biobased products to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced. The products should first be acquired from the USDA designated product categories. All supplies and materials shall be of a type and quantity that conform to applicable Federal specifications and standards, and to the extent feasible and reasonable, include the exclusive use of biobased and recycled products. Please visit www.biopreferred.gov for more information on the USDA Biobased Program and to reference the catalog of mandatory biobased products.

Inactive

A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) ... A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) contractors available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation Announcement, Request for Quote, or Invitation for Bid. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources and to determine the capability of Small Business and/or Large Business companies to provide the supplies/services described below. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. Department of Agriculture requests responses from ALL socioeconomic categories in order to gain a more complete understanding of the market for these products and service. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to limit competition to 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, or other small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition. The NAICS code for the expected acquisition is 541714, with a Size Standard of 1000 employees and the PSC Code is AA11. Scope of Work: The contractor shall provide all necessary labor, parts, and materials to perform Illumina RNA sequencing of alfalfa total RNA from samples provided by Plant Science Research Unit located at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. The goal of the ARS project is to sequence gene transcripts from nine different plants to aid in differential gene expression patterns among the different plants. Reference Performance Work Statement for requirements. Capability Statement: Companies who have the experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. In addition to the Capabilities Statement, companies should complete the attached Sources Sought Response Form and indicate whether they are a Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), SDVOSB, or Women-Owned Small Business. To be eligible, all vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A SAM UEI number is required in order to register in SAM. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. Vendor must include their UEI# on their capability statements. To be eligible, all vendors must also be registered in SAM under the specific NAICS code listed as part of this sources sought. If a prospective vendor is not registered under the specified NAICS code and would qualify to be registered under it then they must update their SAM registration prior to providing a capabilities statement. Finally, to be eligible, all vendors must be NDAA 889 Certified. If they do not currently have a NDAA 889 Certification, then they must complete the attached NDAA 889 Certification form and submit it to melissa.grice@usda.gov so that they can be added to the list of NDAA 889 Certified vendors. Submitting a Capability Statements: Responses should be submitted via email by Friday, April 28, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (Central Time). Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Questions should be directed to Melissa Grice at melissa.grice@usda.gov. Disclaimer: 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. Respondents are also advised that under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback about any of the information received. After review of the responses received, the Government may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation. No proprietary, sensitive, confidential or classified information shall be included with your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.