Bovine Brain Stem Sample Sourcing and Extraction

Sources Sought Brain Stem Sample Sourcing and Extraction of Target Bovine Population The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), in cooperation with the Food Safety Inspection Service, (FSIS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducts an ongoing Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance program. We are currently seeking sources with access to targeted cattle populations across the United States. We are seeking businesses of any size and capability to locate and extract obex samples from three animal health code categories: 1. Clinical Suspect 2. Casualty Slaughter 3. Fallen Stock The details of the service we are seeking are further outlined in the attached DRAFT statement of work (SOW) in order to provide you with an idea of the work to be completed. Please review the statement of work to ensure you understand the requirement. A video of a sample collection may be available upon request. Any questions should be sent in writing to the Contracting Officer at contact@example.gov. The number of resulting Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts that result will depend upon a wide range of factors to include the capability of potential vendors to source targeted populations and extract the required samples, the capacity of contractors or willingness to establish prime/subcontractor relationships to increase their capacity and access to target populations, the number of small business concerns able to provide the service and the geographic areas of the United States each source is able to cover. Statements of capability should be forwarded directly to Robert Zeglin at contact@example.gov. Please include the following key information in your capability statement: 1. Estimated number of samples you could provide on an annual basis for each of the targeted populations: A. Clinical Suspect B. Casualty Slaughter C. Fallen Stock. If your estimates reflect potential subcontracting arrangements, please indicate what percentage of these estimated samples would come from the prime contractor and what percentage would likely come from subcontractor(s). 2. Your size status in terms of number of employees. (Small or Large) The SBA Size Standard is determined under NAICS code "311612 Meat Processed from Carcasses." To be small under this NAICS code means to have 1000 or fewer employees. A size standard is the largest that a concern can be and still qualify as a small business for Federal Government programs. For the most part, size standards are the average annual receipts or the average employment of a firm. For more information on these size standards, please visit http://www.sba.gov/size. 3. Each geographic state where you have access to or may be able to gain access to (through subcontracting) targeted populations. 4. Any of the preferred facilities on the attachment titled "Preferred facilities" that you have access to or may be able to gain access to through a subcontractor. In addition to capability statements, we are also seeking industry feedback on the draft statement of work. Any portions that need further clarification or suggestions for changes or improvements are welcomed. Again, please submit any comments in writing to the contracting officer identified in this notice.