Apple Tree Support

General Information - Contract Opportunity Type: Sources Sought - Original Set Aside: TBD - Product Service Code: S208 - HOUSEKEEPING- LANDSCAPING/GROUNDSKEEPING - NAICS Code: 444240 - Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores - Place of Performance: Kearneysville, WV 25430 Apple Tree Supports - Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought #1094536-SS This is a Sources Sought notice Only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only as part of USDA ARS market research and does not itself constitute an RFQ. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is searching for firms who can: provide vertical wire support solution for vertical support of individual trees in an apple orchard utilizing the Tall Spindle architecture. Background: Require apple tree vertical wire support solution for vertical support of individual trees in an apple orchard utilizing the Tall Spindle architecture. Wire support shall easily attach to orchard trellis already in place and must be rapidly deployable. Rapidly deployable indicates that 1 worker can deploy 1 support and 3 - ties in under 30 seconds. The solution shall include: 11,050 - 50 premium vertical wire supports of ? 6.5 feet in length suitable for vertical support of 8-foot-tall fruit bearing apple trees with the following characteristics. Must be rigid - loop style for easy installation, brand name or equal to Evans Manufacturing Hangers https://evansmfgco.com/orchard-trellis-systems/ Type - C, extended fit, ? 6.5 feet in length or equivalent. All materials must be free of structural defects preventing vertical support of 9-foot-tall fruit bearing apple trees. Supply sufficient - tying material to connect 11,050 individual 5-foot-tall trees to three (3) 12.5-gauge trellis wires i.e., 3 wires x 11,050 trees = ? 33,150 ties. Tying material shall be premium (AgLok or equivalent) grade providing 8 in length for each individual tie. 33,150 * 8 = ? 22,100 linear feet of tie material If a - trellis clip tie solution is provided, (as in EVANS size - small clips, or equivalent), the material must be metal to provide an indefinite lifespan. Quantity provided shall be ? 33,150 clips, rounded up to the nearest - case number the clips are sold in. The Contractor Shall: provide all materials and they shall be transported and delivered to the receiving location (2217 Wiltshire Rd. Kearneysville WV 26530). This Sources Sought is only for the purpose of identifying potential sources as part of USDA ARS market research. The Government does not intend to make an award based on responses to this inquiry. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified sources; Small Businesses; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small business; 8(a) small business; veteran-owned small business; woman-owned small business; or small disadvantaged businesses; All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response defines how it can specifically meet the specifications for the items requested. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After review of the responses received, a Combined Synopsis solicitation notice may be published on Sam.gov. Original Point of Contact: All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be received by March 31, 2023 by 9:00 am. PST, the specified due date and time to be considered. Email responses to Elizabeth Wilson at Elizabeth.Wilson2@usda.gov. Responses will not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Inquiry. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Request.