Cow Lactation and Dry Premix Feed

The USDA Agricultural Research Service is procuring cow lactation and dry cattle premix feeds under an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with solicitation number 1232SA26Q0433, issued on April 24, 2026, for a one-year period from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 311119 with a 650-employee size standard, requiring all offerors to self-certify as small businesses and maintain active SAM registration with a valid Unique Entity ID. Deliveries are to be made F.O.B. destination to the USDA National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, with required shipments of 125 tons of cow lactation premix and 30 tons of dry cattle premix. The contract permits quantity variations of up to ±15% without prior approval, and excess deliveries over $250 require authorization. All feeds must meet strict chemical composition standards, excluding antibiotics, hormones, growth promotants, animal by-products, and coccidiostats; production facilities must flush systems with two tons of compliant feed if previously used for non-compliant products. Deliveries must be transported in clean, enclosed vehicles that have never carried livestock, and each shipment must include certified weight tickets from the same official weighing station bearing the contractor’s name. The government retains full authority to inspect and accept or reject products at the delivery point using Standard Form 1449. Payment will be processed electronically via EFT through SAM, with the USDA ARS Acquisition and Property Division in Beltsville, Maryland, serving as the payment administration office. Evaluation will follow a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology, prioritizing technical acceptability—based on compliance with the Statement of Work and past performance ratings of Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable—before selecting the lowest-priced responsive offer. Key contractual clauses include FAR 52.212-3 and 52.212-5, 52.247-34 for F.O.B. destination terms, and 52.219-6 verifying small business eligibility. The contract includes an option for increased quantities under FAR 52.217-7 but contains no renewal periods or option years. Packaging, preservation, and labeling