87 -- Native Seed Purchase

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; Quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number RFQ R6-18-04-201P is issued as a request for quotations and incorporates provisions and clauses that is in effect through FAC 01-24. This solicitation is a small business set-aside under NAICS 113210. The small business size standard is $6.0 million. This is a two-year Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract for purchasing native seed. Quotes shall be submitted for Item: 1a) Umpqua Blue wildrye (1000-3000 feet in elevation) 500 pounds @ $________per pound, Total amount $____________; 1b) Umpqua Blue wildrye (3000-4000 feet in elevation) 500 pounds @ $________ per pound, Total amount $____________; 1c) Willamette Blue wildrye (3000-5000 feet in elevation) 1500 pounds @ $________ per pound, Total amount $____________; and 1d) Willamette California brome (3000-5000 feet in elevation) 1500 pounds @ $________ per pound, Total amount $____________. Total for all Items $__________. The quantities listed are estimates only and may not reflect the actual amounts to be ordered. The firm-fixed-priced contract will have a minimum $17,000.00 and maximum $100,000.00 value. All purchases will be ordered by task order through August 31, 2006. The Government will issue an order as a result of this Request for Quotations to the responsible quoter whose quote, conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government, cost or price and other factors considered. The evaluation factors in order of importance shall be used to evaluate quotes: 1) Contractor's Capability and Capacity: Provide the number of years this specific entity has been doing this type of work with native grasses. If part of the experience period was doing business under a different business name, identify that business and period separately. If not using Government-furnished stock seed, give a brief history of fields in current production status, including date field planted, source of seed, elevation range of source seed, and whether seed is foundation or first generation. The purpose is for the Government to determine Contractor's capacity and capability to meet priorities and contract requirements; 2) Past Performance: Provide a listing of your projects for the past three-year (3) period, which most closely relates to this type of work. Include the following information for each contract: a) Type of native grass species, b) Total contract value, c) Completion date, or stage of completion if still in progress, and d) Client's name, address, telephone. The Government will assess the quality of the work performed for prior clients, including timeliness, compliance with requirements, and the degree of customer satisfaction. If you experienced difficulties on any of these contracts, please describe the difficulties, and any steps taken to prevent a recurrence, and 3) Commitment to Recruiting, Training, and Hiring Local Residents: Provide a narrative of your Hiring Plan to hire local residents, include your training program for local residents. Include a narrative of how you will create economic benefits to the local communities (local subcontracting, purchasing supplies, lodging, etc). You may use the separate supplemental document for addressing evaluation factors. The supplemental also includes offeror representations and certifications. The Government may reject any or all quotes, issue orders to other than the lowest quote, and waive minor informalities or irregularities in quotes received. If necessary, the Government may conduct discussion with any or all quoters. ITEM DESCRIPTION - Whereas the policy of the Willamette and Umqua National Forest is to use genetically local native seed from specified elevation ranges on restoration and revegetation projects, the following will be given highest priority for purchase: 1) First Priority- Seed from stock collected on the Willamette or Umqua National Forests from specified elevation bands; 2) Second Priority- Seed from stock collected on lands adjacent to the Willamette or Umpqua National Forests, within the Cascades province. Growout fields shall be located in the state of Oregon, west of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley. Seed must also meet the following requirements: a) Foundation or first generation seed only. This means seed collected from federal lands and directly seeded into fields (foundation) or seed from a field that has been planted with seed from a foundation field (first generation). This is to ensure no seed becomes genetically fixed for characters found in the valley rather than within the Willamette or Umpqua National Forest or the Cascade Province where the seed will be used; b) Seed shall be from the most recent crop year and shall have been tested within two (2) months of delivery. The Government will provide 10 pounds of stock seed for each lot no earlier than October 1, 2004, upon request by Contractor. The Government will notify the Contractor by task order if additional seed will be required in a given year. Task orders for the following years harvest will be submitted by August 16th. The Contractor shall test each lot. Testing shall occur at Oregon State University or other lab acceptable to the Government. The Contracting Officer must approve any other lab. Seed shall be packaged in bags (heavy duty paper, poly-lined burlap or nylon/plastic with sown bottom and top) and clearly labeled with lot identification, species name, year of harvest, weight, percent purity, percent germination, percent other crop seed, percent inert matter, percent weed seed, test date and tester. Seed shall be prepared for delivery consistent with standard commercial practice. For species such as blue wildrye, this means de-awning all seed. The Contractor shall submit an invoice with transferred seed. Results of seed tests must accompany seed. The Contractor shall have packaged seed ready for pickup by the Government no later than September 30th of each year, as specified in each task order. The Government has the right to purchase excess seed over and above that specified in task orders. The Contractor shall notify the Government when excess seed is available and the Government will respond with additional task order(s) within two (2) weeks if it intends to purchase additional seed. Inspection and Acceptance: Seed shall meet the following standards: a) purity - 94% minimum, b) germination - 90% minimum, c) other crop seed - 1% maximum, d) inert matter - 4% maximum, e) weed seed - 1% maximum, and f) Oregon State listed noxious weed seed - None. The Government reserves the right to reject any lot that is noncompliant with specifications. The Government reserves the right to select seed turned in for original testing and to be present when seed for testing is selected. The Contractor shall contact the Contracting Officer Representative 48 hours prior to seed selection. Selection shall occur during normal business hours, from 8:00 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday. Payment will be made for no more than 4% inert material. If the percentage of pure live seed is less than 96%, payment for the seed will be for the actual percentage of pure live seed delivered. Payment cannot exceed 100%. For example, if inert material is 12%, this exceeds the specifications by 8%. Thus, the payment would be for 92% of the unit price per pound. If seed standards are not met, the Government retains the right to purchase seed at a reduced price. PROVISIONS - The following FAR clauses are applicable to this solicitation and may be obtained at the following website; www.arnet.gov/far: 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration, 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Items, 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, Addendeum to 52.212-4: 52.216-18 Ordering - (a) Such orders may be issued from date of contract award through August 31, 2006, 52.216-19 Order Limitations - (a) $500.00, (b1) $100,000.00, (b2) $100,000.00, (b3) 21 days, (c)(d) seven (7) days, 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity - (d) October 15, 2006, 52.217-2 Cancellation Under Multiyear Contracts, and 52.246-16 Responsibility for Supplies, 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statures or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (a)(b)(5)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(22)(25)(26)(30)(e). Supplemental attachments are available on the Internet at the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website at www.fedbizopps.gov. For technical information contact Jenny Lippert at +1 (555) 000-0000. Responses are due by 4:30 PM local time, August 2, 2004 at USDA - Willamette National Forest, 211 E. 7th Avenue, Room 119, Eugene, OR 97401. Quoters may submit Facsimile Proposals to: +1 (555) 000-0000. DUNS NUMBER__________________