Annual Inspection & Certification of the EDS

This contract, titled Annual Inspection & Certification of the EDS, is a firm-fixed-price requirements contract issued under solicitation number 1232SA26Q0503 by the USDA ARS Acquisition and Property Division, with performance located at the NEA Foreign Disease Weed Science Research Unit in Frederick, Maryland. The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541330, with a size standard of $25.5 million in average annual receipts, requiring all offerors to self-certify as small businesses, and includes mandatory compliance with FAR clauses related to small business utilization, subcontracting limitations, the nonmanufacturer rule, and flow-down requirements to subcontractors. The base period runs from July 20, 2026, through July 19, 2027, with three one-year option periods that may extend performance through July 19, 2030. The scope mandates annual certification of the effluent decontamination system (EDS), including 20 filter integrity tests and replacement of 10 Graver Teftec filters, with acceptance occurring on-site at the Frederick location under FOB Destination terms. Evaluation will follow the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method, where only the lowest-priced offer is considered for technical acceptability and past performance, with failure to meet minimum standards resulting in elimination regardless of price advantage. The contract incorporates stringent security and workforce integrity requirements under 452.204-71, mandating Personal Identity Verification (PIV) compliance for all personnel and immediate removal of non-compliant individuals without additional cost to the government. Special provisions also enforce strict adherence to anti-discrimination and DEI certification requirements, prohibiting any programs that violate civil rights statutes or constitutional protections, with non-compliance treated as a material breach subject to False Claims Act liability and contract termination. Payment is administered through the USDA ARS Acquisition and Property Division in Beltsville, Maryland, with invoices submitted via mail to the designated office, and electronic funds transfer options available. Offerors must submit proposals electronically by May 4, 2026, to the designated contracting officer’s email in Word or PDF format, and must be currently registered in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity ID. Additional requirements include compliance with labor standards under the Service Contract Act, employment eligibility verification through E-Verify if applicable, and adherence to environmental regulations concerning ozone-depleting substances and biobased products