J -- Sources Sought Synposis - Labor Services

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS; there is no solicitation available at this time. No response will be provided for requests for a solicitation. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. Additional note this procurement is an A-76 direct conversion. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural and Marketing Services (AMS), Fruit & Vegetable Programs, Processed Products Branch, Fresno, California, is seeking potential small businesses capable of providing labor services: delivering, set-up, maintaining, repairing, cleaning, and picking-up existing and replacement raisin inspection equipment. The raisin inspection equipment consists of air stream sorters (approx. 127), sand washers (approx. 38), moisture machines (approx. 118), sizers (approx. 27), grinders (approx. 165), scales (approx. 292), moisturing ovens (approx. 46), Denver splitters (approx. 99), micro shakers (approx. 15), micro filter systems (approx. 15), bag fillers (approx. 30), bicycles (approx. 64), inspection lighting (approx. 286), hot plates (approx. 65) and office furniture which includes desks, file cabinets, and chairs for all labs. There are 46 physical locations and 58 labs within those physical locations where this equipment is serviced. All of these physical locations are within Madera, Fresno, and Tulare counties of California. There are three types of labs with equipment: incoming raisin inspection labs, outgoing raisin inspection labs, and raisin dehydrator inspection labs. These services are now provided by the USDA. The entire California raisin industry is serviced. Incoming inspection labs and dehydrator inspection labs operate from approximately August 15 to November 15 every year with the outgoing inspection labs (19 labs) running all year. Government space and replacement parts for the equipment will be provided for these services. However, tools for maintenance will not be provided. This sources sought announcement is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as commitment by the Government, implied or otherwise, to issue a solicitation or ultimately award of a contract. An award will not be made on offers received in response to this notice. This Sources Sought synopsis is not a Request for Proposal (RFP); it is a market research tool being utilized to determine the availability of sources prior to issuing an RFP. This information is provided to obtain industry perspectives as the Government develops its acquisition strategy. Responses must include the Company Name, Street Address, City and State, zipcode, POC, POC e-mail address, POC telephone and facsimile numbers. All written responses should be faxed to the attention of: Patricia Harris, Contracting Officer at 612/370-2106 or by mail to: USDA, APHIS, MRPBS, ATTN: Patricia Harris, 100 North Sixth Street, 5th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Telephone requests will not be taken. A formal solicitation will be issued at a later date. Responses due no later than October 29, 2001.