87 -- Growing Media

Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Coeur dAlene Nursery, Kootenai County, Idaho. 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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation AG-0281-S-07-0005 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-13. The clauses and provisions referenced in this solicitation can be found in full text form at http://www.arnet.gov/far. This is a total small business set-aside and the small business size standard is 500 employees. The North American Industry Classification Code is 325314. A quotation is requested for two (2) line items. LINE ITEM 1: 14,625 cubic feet growing media, palletized in 65 cubic-foot tote bags, with the following specifications: 1) composition of the following nominal percent by volume: 80 percent choice cut Canadian sphagnum peat moss, vacuum mined, light (blonde) peat color, percentage of fines in peat to be less than 8 percent from the number 100 mesh sieve with a coarse fine ratio of 1:2 using the number 10 sieve; 20 percent Douglas fir (interior source) sawdust, fresh, run across one-half-inch screen before mixing; 0.75 pounds per cubic yard Nitroform (adjust as needed), 2) bulk density of media shall be 0.09 gm per ml, 3) pH range after wetting: -4.0 to 5.4, 4) dry density: 8 to 10 pounds per cubic foot, 5) salinity (salt) shall be no less than 1.5 mmhos cm, 6) media shall contain wetting agent, 3 ounces per cubic yard, 7) media shall have a moisture content of 30 to 40 percent by dry weight, 8) aeration porosity shall be 25 to 35 percent, 9) desired exchangeable nutrient range: Nitrogen (NH4) 0.0 parts per million; Nitrogen (NO3) 0-10 parts per million; phosphorus 0-10 parts per million; potassium 10-30 parts per million; calcium 10-50 parts per million; magnesium 0-20 parts per million; iron 0.3-1.3 parts per million; copper 0.001-0.011 parts per million; zinc 0.080-0.190 parts per million; chlorides 0-5 parts per million. LINE ITEM 2: 600 cubic feet Horticultural Course Grade Perlite, packaged in 4 cubic-foot bags and palletized shrink-wrapped with 25-30 bags per pallet. Inspection will be made at the delivery point and will consist of random sampling of the product for conformance with specifications and quantity count. Products delivered under any resulting contract must conform to (1) the approved 2 cubic-foot sample for the characteristics listed, and (2) the specifications for all other characteristics. Quotation from offeror shall include description of sawdust type and source used. A responsive quote will include a 2 cubic-foot sample with a certified list of ingredients, price quote per cubic foot, proposed packaging size, plus a media analysis. A possible source of analysis is The Scotts Company (Grace Sierra), Iron Run Industrial Park, 6656 Grant Way, Allentown, PA 18106-9316, Phone: (215)-395-7104 or (800)-743-4769. Media shall be supplied in opaque bags. Clear bags are unacceptable. Bags shall be palletized and shrink-wrapped or non-slip treated to aid in forklift transport. Large tote bags will be able to be unloaded and lifted to be emptied via forklift, without the assistance of additional devices or fasteners. Offer will specify how material will be packaged for delivery. Required delivery to be made, by the successful offeror, to the Coeur dAlene Nursery located at 3600 Nursery Road, Coeur dAlene, ID 83815, according to the following schedule: to be determined once awarded. (Quantities will be adjusted to accommodate full truckloads.) FAR 52.211-16, Variation in Quantity (April 1984) applies to this solicitation and any resulting contract. (a) A variation in the quantity of any item called for by this contract will not be accepted unless the variation has been caused by conditions of loading, shipping, or packing, or allowances in manufacturing processes, and then only to the extent, if any, specified in paragraph (b) of this clause. (b) The permissible variation in quantity shall be limited to: 3 percent increase, 3 percent decrease, total contract quantity. All deliveries shall be made on regular workdays (Monday through Friday) during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), excluding official Federal Government holidays. Contractor shall notify the Coeur dAlene Nursery +1 (555) 000-0000 a minimum of 24 hours prior to delivery. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The contract award will be offered to the best value offer made to the Government, considering price, technical specifications, and availability of product. Offerors will include with their offer a completed copy of the provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items. The clauses 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items, and 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, apply to this acquisition. Offers must be received by November 24, 2006, at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time at the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisors Office, ATTN: Acquisition Management, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur dAlene, ID 83815-8363. Faxed offers are acceptable; however it is the responsibility of the offeror to verify receipt of faxed documents. Offers may be faxed to: ATTN: Wendy Stephenson, at +1 (555) 000-0000. For more information regarding this solicitation, please contact Wendy Stephenson, +1 (555) 000-0000.