Hay Cubes IDIQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12505B22Q0186 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-6. The associated NAICS code is 111940, Hay Farming, with a small business size standard of $1.0 Million and the PSC code is 8710. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following products: 001) Grass-Alfalfa Hay Cubes 002) Timothy Hay Cubes Scope of Work: The USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA is requesting quotes for hay cubes. Hay Cubes IDIQ Contract for Animal Resources Unit of USDA Laboratory. IDIQ Contract Period of Coverage: 12 months from date of award. Anticipated usage not to exceed 90 ton of Grass-Alfalfa Hay Cubes and 75 ton of Timothy Hay Cubes. Background: The mission of the USDA-National Animal Disease Center Animal Resources unit in Ames, IA is to provide animal care and support services for internal users that rely on animal products for research, testing and training. Fresh, clean, high-quality feed is critical to support animal health and well-being of a variety of animals used in laboratory research at the USDA Laboratories in Ames, IA. Since diet is an essential control factor necessary in the Center's research, no substitution or deviation from the specifications is permissible without approval from the USDA. Only Clean, high-quality ingredients are to be used. Combining/Blending with like ingredients of low quality or possible contamination is not acceptable. This would include but not limited to mold and mycotoxins within feed ingredients. Technical Requirements: SPECIFICATIONS FOR HAY CUBES Item 1: Grass-Alfalfa cubes: Content shall be a mixture of grasses (minimum 40%, maximum 75%) and alfalfa (minimum 25%, maximum 60%). Grasses shall be brome, orchard, and/or timothy. Protein content shall be no less than 11% and moisture content shall be no more than 13.0% and not less than 11.5%. Crude fiber shall be less than 33%. Item 2: Timothy cubes: Content shall be timothy grass only. Protein content shall be no less than 7% and moisture content shall be no more than 13.0% and not less than 11.5%. Crude fiber shall be less than 35%. The minimal guaranteed protein, Crude Fiber and Moisture content of the cubes in percent shall be placed on a tag attached to the bag or stamped on the bag. Hay shall not contain injurious foreign materials. The cubes shall be approximately 2 inches long x 1.5 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. The cubes shall be delivered in multi-walled bags that shall not be less than 50/50 all-natural Kraft paper only (plastic liners are not allowed.). Individual bag weight shall not exceed 60 pounds nor be less than 40 pounds (ideally 50 pounds). All bags within the same shipment must be consistent (NTE 1-pound difference) and shall not be tied with, nor contain wire, or backing boards or any other nonflammable materials. Bag size shall be approximately 20 inches wide x 5 inches deep and 38 inches long to facilitate stacking. Only new bags shall be used. The Hay Cubes shall be made in the field during haying season or hay baled directly off field and stored/processed in clean facilities free of possible contaminates. Hay Cubes shall be cured in a ventilated building, a minimum of twenty (20) days prior to bagging. All fines shall be screened prior to or during the bagging process. The cubes shall be bagged in the same facility as they are cured in. Hay Cubes must have been manufactured NTE 120 days from delivery. NOTE: Items purchased under this contract will be used to feed animals in the conduction of research. Since diet is an essential control factor necessary in the Center's research, no substitution or deviation from the formulations is permissible without approval from the USDA. Only clean, high quality ingredients are to be used. Combining/Blending with like ingredients of low quality or possible contamination is not acceptable. This would include but not limited to mold and mycotoxins within feed ingredients. Cubes should NOT contain: Antibiotics Hormones Chemical growth promotants Animal Products or by-products Bactericides, Bacteriostats or Coccidiostats If the mill to be used has processed feeds containing any of these materials prior to processing Government feed, it shall be flushed with at least two tons of feed which does not contain any of the above-mentioned additives immediately before processing. This is to be done at the expense of the Contractor. DELIVERIES The Contractor shall provide all resourced necessary to accomplish the tasks and deliverables described in the Statement of Work. Deliveries shall be made to: USDA, ARS, MWA, NADC, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, Iowa 50010. Deliveries shall be made during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor shall make deliveries within ten (10) working days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee. Partial deliveries of a minimum quantity may be requested. Deliveries shall be made from the plant in which the Hay Cubes are manufactured and bagged in clean, closed vehicles not used in the transportation of livestock. Each shipment shall be made as through shipment to the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) without transfer from truck to truck or trailer or through terminals and unloaded at location specified by the NADC. The Contractor shall assure that the material conforms to the specifications in the contract prior to delivery. Upon delivery, at destination, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all parts of a shipment, if in the opinion of the Government, does not meet the requirements contained herein. Bags that are torn so that Hay Cubes are exposed on arrival at the NADC will not be accepted for use. The Government reserves the right to inspect the processing and storage plant of Hay Cubes before, or any time after, the contract is consummated. Final inspection will be made at destination for condition and quality. Bags shall be loaded and delivered on returnable or disposable pallets so that Hay Cubes can be unloaded by a Government Forklift Operator at the Government facility. If returnable pallets are used, they shall be provided at no additional cost to the Government and the Contractor shall be responsible for pick-up and return of these pallets after delivery. It is required by the ICC that both the empty and loaded weight must be obtained from the same weighing station. The Contractor shall provide the Government with a certified copy of the loaded weight ticket at the time of each delivery, which must be obtained at an Official Weighing Station with the firm's name inscribed on the weigh ticket. A DELIVERY TICKET must accompany the weigh ticket also, allowing for a signature of a person making the delivery and a signature of government personnel receiving the Hay Cubes. The delivery ticket must list the number of tons per load. A delivery ticket must be presented with each delivery (allowing for a signature of person making the delivery and signature of Government personnel receiving the delivery) and must list the number of bags. NOTE: Exception to weigh tickets would be for bags that have certified equal weights and each bag is marked, thus weigh tickets would not be required. If weigh tickets are not presented, the Government reserves the right to weigh random bags upon delivery. NOTE: Items purchased under this contract will be used to care for animals in the conduction of research. No substitution or deviation from the specifications is permissible without approval from the USDA. Only clean, high-quality ingredients are to be used. Combining/Blending with like ingredients of low quality or possible contamination is not acceptable. This would include but not limited to mold and mycotoxins within feed ingredients. Government Furnished: Contractor will require state-issued identification to gain access to the facility for escorted delivery to the straw storage building. The following rules and regulations apply to all property at the NCAH, Ames, Iowa, under the custody of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to all persons entering on such property. Admission to Property: The campus is closed to the general public. Admission to the facility is restricted to authorized persons and approved visitors. Upon entry, visitors: Will be required to present Government or other identifying credentials to the Officer at the Visitor Gate (photo driver's license, passport, or other official photo identification). Will be issued a visitor's badge and must wear and display the badge at all times while visiting the facilities. Key Deliverables: Up to 90 ton of grass-alfalfa hay cubes Up to 75 ton of timothy hay cubes Delivery: Deliveries shall be made from the plant in which the Hay Cubes are manufactured and bagged in clean, closed vehicles not used in the transportation of livestock. Each shipment shall be made as through shipment to the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) without transfer from truck to truck or trailer or through terminals and unloaded at location specified by the NADC. Shipment by rail is not acceptable. Deliveries shall be made to: USDA, ARS, MWA, NADC, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, Iowa 50010. Deliveries shall be made during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor shall make deliveries within ten (10) working days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee. Partial deliveries of a minimum quantity may be requested. It will be requested that contractor call +1 (555) 000-0000 prior to delivery. If the Monday is a Federal Holiday or the Observance of the Federal Holiday, then the delivery will be made on Tuesday of that week. IDIQ Contract Period of Coverage: 12 months from date of award. The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination. Location of the Government site is aboard Ames, IA and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Evaluation Factors: The basis for award will be Lowest Price, Technically acceptable. The Government intends to make a single Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) quote received. "LPTA" means the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable quote with the lowest evaluated price. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, the criteria for evaluation are: (1) Price; (2) Technical Requirements. The lowest priced quote will be evaluated first; if NOT found acceptable, the next lowest priced quote will be evaluated, and so on until a technically acceptable quote is identified. The government will NOT review higher priced quotes if the lowest priced quote is determined to be technically acceptable. For quoted products to be considered technically acceptable, they must meet ALL of the technical requirements identified in this solicitation. Submitting a Quote: Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-1. The applicable FAR clauses and provisions that apply to this acquisition are included with the attached quote submission form (SF1449). The Government anticipates award of one Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A contractor can contact SAM by calling +1 (555) 000-0000 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required in order to register. Vendor must also include their UEI# on their quote. The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, contractors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting award. Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote on SF1449 (see attached) and provide completed FAR clauses and provisions. The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. Failure to demonstrate compliance will constitute sufficient cause to reject a quote without further discussions. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be put into considered for award. Questions in regards to this combined synopsis/solicitation must be submitted through email (NO calls with questions will be accepted) and are due by NO later than 5:00 PM CT on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation. No questions will be answered after this date unless determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted (NO phone calls or quotes submitted by USPS mail will be accepted). Please email all quotes in writing on the SF1449 with completed FAR clauses and provisions to contact@example.gov by NO later than Monday August 15, 2022 at 5:00 PM Central Time (CT). Note: Be absolutely certain to reference the RFQ number - 12505B22Q0186 and/or title of the solicitation - Hay Cubes IDIQ in the subject, body, and/or attachments on your quote submission email to ensure your submission can be located and attributed to this solicitation. Failure to do so could potentially result in your submission being deemed - unresponsive and as a result your quote may NOT be put into consideration for award (as your quote may NOT be located when searching the recipients email to ensure all responses to the solicitation have been logged before making an award determination).