Care and Maintenance of a U.S. Government Horse Herd

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Project Information Requests: The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) (a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response) is seeking capability statements from small businesses having the ability to provide husbandry and veterinary services to maintain a herd of 90 to 100 draft horses owned by the U.S. government. The narrative (including figures, schematics, diagrams, photographs, etc.) should describe the capabilities of the offeror and demonstrate their ability to meet the below criteria: Document experience with draft horse management (including nutritional requirements, hoof care, and safe handling procedures). Provide plat of land indicating a minimum of 150 connected acres that separates horse herd from any other livestock (cannot be separate parcels at different locations). Document ability to provide qualified draft horse equine veterinarian with documentation of a minimal 10 years of equine veterinary practice experience, as well as a minimum of 2 on call equine veterinarians. Provide 24/7 (including weekends and holidays) equine veterinary medical care and sufficient farm staff to provide daily feed, water and herd management. Be located within 10 mile radius of equine referral hospital that has a 1 or more full time board certified equine veterinary surgery specialist, anesthesiologist, radiologist and internal medicine specialist. Hospital must provide documentation of past draft horse abdominal surgical procedures and outcomes. Have strong metal wire mesh fences at least 5 foot tall with inside electric wire located near the top of the fence and sufficient electric fence charger to supply current across total distance of one stand electric wire. Provide at least 2 separate treatment paddocks to treat multiple draft horses that have sufficient shade coverage. Have designated quarantine area at outer edge of farm. Have horse barn containing a minimal of 10 (12ft. x 12ft.) stalls and adjacent treatment room with draft horse retention stocks. Provide security measures that restrict access to unauthorized personnel. Have truck capable of pulling multiple horse draft trailer. Have aluminum draft horse trailer capable of transporting multiple draft horses in a humane manner. Provide routine equine herd health immunizations (Flu/Rhino, EWT, Rabies, West Nile, Strangles) and dewormers as needed. Potomac fever vaccine may be indicated depending on location of applicant's farm. Provide annual Coggins test (EIA) through approved lab. Provide CBC and Chemistry panel (every 6 months) on each U.S. government horse. Results must be reported to designated BARDA equine veterinarian. Maintain veterinary medical records on each horse that list the immunization information (vaccine name and manufacturer, date of immunization, batch number, lot number, date of expiration). Provide thorough veterinary care including medical treatment of colics, foot abscesses, sub-solar bruises, cuts, scrapes, lacerations, skin problems, respiratory problems, dental and sinus conditions, opthalmic exams and routine treatments, neurological exams, lameness exams and treatments and diagnostic radiology and ultrasound. All veterinary procedures must be clearly documented in individualized horse records. Provide a communication plan so that all emergency cases must be discussed with BARDA veterinarian immediately. Provide BARDA equine transportation to referral hospital or board certified veterinary pathologist when approved by attending BARDA equine veterinarian. Provide necropsy diagnostic services by board certified pathologist. Have approved procedures for disposable of deceased horses. Have approved IACUC panel. Have the following veterinary equipment available on farm: Tracker Microchip reader Portable X ray machine (100 kVP or larger) Digital X ray processor and cassettes (CR or DR) Diagnostic ultrasound equipment with either multi-frequency probe or separate rectal or external probes. Video endoscopes including gastroscopes, bronchoscope, and colonscope Equine veterinary dental equipment including electric or hydraulic power Floats, dental speculum and light source. Retention stocks (large enough for up to 2500 lbs. draft horses) Microscope, refractometer, centrifuge, validated digital rectal thermometer CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT: The established 541940 Veterinary Services. Information submitted should be relevant and specific in the technical area under consideration, on each of the following qualifications: 1) Experience: An outline of previous similar projects, specifically the techniques employed in the services described above; 2) Personnel: Name, professional qualifications and specific experience in the work requested; 3) Facilities: Availability and description of the facilities and equipment required to conduct this type of work. Also, we will consider appropriateness of professional and technical personnel classifications; any other specific and relevant information about this particular area of procurement that would improve our consideration and evaluation of the information presented. Organizations should demonstrate capability to administer and coordinate interrelated tasks in an effective and timely manner. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, government and commercial contracts the organization performed, references (i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers) and any other information serving to document the organization's capability (e.g., awards, commendations, etc). All capability statements must provide the following: 1) company name and address; 2) point of contact, 3) phone/fax/email; 4) NAICS Code(s), 5) business size and status; 6) capability information in response to the requirement and qualifications identified in this notice; and 7) type of small business your organization classifies itself as (i.e.: women-owned, HUBZONE, etc.). Written capability statements must be RECEIVED NO LATER THAN June 24, 2014 and e-mailed to the Contracting Officer. Only electronic capability statements will be accepted by the point of contact. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. 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 a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).