Notice of Intent to negotiate a sole source procurement for a small plot harvester.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) intends to negotiate a sole source procurement with Wintersteiger of Salt Lake City, Utah for a small plot harvester. This harvester has unique features, capabilities, and interchangeable parts that will enable consistency of scientific results in ongoing agricultural research. This is a notice of intent and is not a request for competitive quotations or proposals. No solicitation is available. Firms that believe they can provide an equal or superior product are encouraged to identify themselves and provide a substantive statement with descriptive literature and any other supporting information to the Contracting Officer within 10 days of publication of this notice. All information received within 10 days of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government to determine if the more than one firm can meet the Government's requirements and is capable of delivering a harvester that is as capable or superior to the Wintersteiger harvester and will not compromise scientific results and will not compromise ongoing research. All responses must be in writing and may be faxed to the attention of James Wiltse, fax 970-492-1731, or emailed at James.Wiltse@ars.usda.gov. Questions concerning this acquisition must be directed to James C. Wiltse at the above contact information. Anticipated Date of Award is 9/2/2014. This procurement requires the use of biobased products to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced. Where available, these products should first be acquired from among qualified products that fall under the umbrella of items designated through the USDA BioPreferred SM Program. Energy policy acts of 1992, 2005, 2007 and Executive Order 13423 require the purchase of energy efficient products--either those labeled "ENERGY STAR" or designated by the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). The requirement applies both to direct purchases and contracted services, including contracts for design, construction, renovation, or maintenance of a public building. For contracted services, the contractor must provide ENERGY STAR, FEMP qualified, or other energy efficient products. The Contractor must comply with the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA), 7 U.S.C. 8102; the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), 7 U.S.C. 8102; the Federal Acquisition Regulation; Executive Order (EO) 13514, "Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance," dated October 5, 2009; EO 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management," dated January 24, 2007; and Presidential Memorandum, "Driving Innovation and Creating Jobs in Rural America through Biobased and Sustainable Product Procurement," dated February, 2012 to provide biobased products.