Laboratory Testing services for NY Plum Pox Virus Eradication Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Plum Pox Virus Eradication Program (PPV) in Carlisle, PA intends to award a sole source contract to Washington State University for testing analysis for the Plum Pox Virus on approximately 15,000 Leaf Samples from New York Orchards. All other available laboratories were contacted and declined their assistance with these additional leaf sample tests due to not having the available personnel, equipment or time needed to conduct the work. If leaf samples are not processed immediately, they will deteriorate and cannot be tested for the Plum Pox Virus which in turn will be detrimental to the Fruit Industry of the United States. Some of the PPV laboratory testing services is conducted by The Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture under Cooperative Agreement 11-8242-0188-CA. The PDA Lab can only test approximately 120,000 samples due to limited personnel, extremely limited time to conduct the testing and the cost of supplies and equipment. The other laboratory conducting PPV testing is Agdia Inc.; Contract No. AG-6395-C-07-003 and PO No. AG-6395-D-11-004. Currently scheduled to test 13,000 samples. Per langue in above contract "PPV Operations will give a 4 week notice for the need of PPV Laboratory testing services by Agdia under normal operating circumstances. " The testing MUST be done immediately. To the best of our knowledge, Washington State University is the only testing lab with the expertise and experience that is available that can satisfy the Government's immediate requirements. This procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR FAR 6.302-1 The property or services needed by the executive agency are available from only one responsible qualified source at this time and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the executive agency. And FAR 6.302-2; when the agency's need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits bids or proposals, full and open competition need not be provided for. Application. This authority applies in those situations where- (1) An unusual and compelling urgency precludes full and open competition; and (2) Delay in award of a contract would result in serious injury, financial or other, to the Government. Contract will be firm fixed price. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541380, and the size standard is $ 12.0Mil. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals. No solicitations documents are available and telephone requests will not be honored. However; if a firm believes it can meet the requirements it must furnish information about its products and services, as well as three (3) references from other customers who are using these services, to the Contracting Officer by 4:00pm. Central Time (CT) by August 31, 2011. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the above requirement. Responses received after the response date or without the required information will be deemed nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. Capability statements may be sent to: Carol Dingess, Contracting Officer , USDA-APHIS-MRPBS, ASD Procurement Branch, Butler Square Building, 5th Floor, 100 N. 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403, or via email @ contact@example.gov or fax @ +1 (555) 000-0000. Responses received will be evaluated however; a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement is based upon urgency.