Supply of Containerized Seedlings (Q-Plug)

Description: This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized by FAR Part 13.5. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is AG-04N7-S-16-0048 and is issued as a Request for Quotations. The NAICS code is 113210. The small business size standard is $11.0 million average annual receipts. This acquisition is a small business set-aside. This solicitation is for a firm fixed price contract. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2005-89-1 dated August 16, 2016.. The following clauses and provisions apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items; 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Items; the evaluation criteria stated in paragraph (a) of this provision are as follows: (1) Technical Capability to meet requirements stated herein, (2) Past Performance and 3) Price. Technical and Past Performance when combined are approximately equal to cost or price. The contract award will be offered to the best value offer made to the Government, considering technical capability, past performance and price; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items and 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- Commercial Items. In paragraph (b) of 52.212-5, the following apply: 52.209.11,,52.219-6, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-50, 52.225-1, 52.225-13 and 52.232-33. All clauses and provisions referenced in this announcement may be accessed at the following website: http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ SCOPE OF CONTRACT:Production of Container Seedlings - It is the purpose of this solicitation to obtain the supply of an estimated 3.7 million container seedlings (q-plugs) to be grown at a greenhouse growing facility until Government transports and transplants the q-plugs into the fields at the J. Herbert Stone Nursery of the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest. The containerized seedlings will be grown in separate summer and winter crops detailed below. The primary species will be Douglas-Fir and Ponderosa Pine, but other conifer species may be included. The offeror's growing facility must be located within 200 miles of the J. Herbert Stone Nursery, Central Point, Oregon, to facilitate direct transplanting of the seedlings into the fields at the J. Herbert Stone Nursery site. WINTER 2017 CROP - Supply an estimated 1,100,000 Q-Plug seedlings by 04/18/17. - Seed will be delivered to the offeror's facility no later than 100 days prior to scheduled sowing (130 days for long stratification species such as Western white pine, etc.). - Hortiblock 200's (block size: approximately 13.5 in. wide x 26.5 in. long x 2.25 in. deep) filled with growing media will be delivered to the vendor's facility between 1/25/17 and 2/10/17. - Sow seed between 1/30/17 and 2/15/17 unless a change is recommended by the vendor and approved in advance by the government. - Q-Plugs to be delivered to the J Herbert Stone Nursery in Central Point, Oregon between 4/14/17 and 4/28/17 (dates set by the government). SUMMER 2017 CROP - Supply an estimated 2,600,000 Q-Plug seedlings by 10/13/17. - Seed will be delivered to the offeror's facility no later than 100 days prior to scheduled sowing (130 days for long stratification species such as Western white pine, etc.). - Hortiblock 200's (block size: approximately 13.5 in. wide x 26.5 in. long x 2.25 in. deep) filled with growing media will be delivered to the vendor's facility between 6/23/17 and 7/12/17. - Sow seed between 6/28/17 and 7/14/17 unless a change is recommended by the vendor and approved in advance by the government. - Q-Plugs to be delivered to the J Herbert Stone Nursery in Central Point, Oregon between 9/22/17 and 10/11/17 (dates set by the government). THE GOVERNMENT WILL: - Provide the contractor available test data for each seed lot used including seeds per pound, germination, purity, test dates, and total weight. - Provide the required Hortiblock 200's (block size: approximately 13.5 in. wide x 26.5 in. long x 2.25 in. deep) filled with growing media. - Arrange for delivery of the Hortiblocks to contractor's growing facility by the dates indicated. - Arrange return transportation/shipping of finished Q-Plug seedlings in Hortiblocks by the dates indicated above. - Make periodic inspections of the stock at the contractor's facility. Deficiencies noted at such inspections shall be promptly corrected. Finished seedling delivery dates will be set by the government when inspections determine plant size and condition is acceptable. Final inspection and acceptance will be made at time of delivery. THE CONTRACTOR WILL: - Provide a permanent greenhouse at a growing facility located within 200 miles of the J. Herbert Stone Nursery, Central Point, Oregon. - Provide a technical proposal that outlines all production methods, activities, and conditions including sowing methods, greenhouse climate targets, fertilization schedules, hardening off methods, and all other growing information. - Calculate the seed required to produce the number of seedlings requested using the seed lot data provided by the government. - Stratify all seed lots using best methods for maximizing quick germination. - Provide the methods used to calculate seed use. The government reserves the right to modify or reject the methods used. - Sow the seed into the Hortiblock 200's, germinate the seed, grow the seedlings to acceptable size and condition including fertilization, heating, irrigation, lighting, pest control, weeding and thinning to a single seedling per cell. The growing objective is to germinate the seed and achieve moderate, balanced growth sufficient to facilitate easy transplanting in nursery fields and achieve high post-transplanting survival rates. - Return all unused seed to the government. - Provide within two weeks of sow completion, a sow summary report listing blocks sown, sow dates for each lot, seeds per cell sown, and length of seed stratification. - Provide at least two weeks prior to shipment of Q-plugs, a crop status report to include estimated inventory of transplantable plugs per lot and any notes on the performance of individual lots. Performance notes should include suspected reasons for low germination on poor performing seed lots. - Maintain and upon request, provide the Government a record by date listing the cultural work undertaken for the contract. Records shall include date sown, seeds per cell sown, oversow rates, contractor completed germination test results, dates of fertilization, insecticide/fungicide treatments, greenhouse temperatures, irrigation schedules, inventory numbers, and any other cultural work performed on all or any portion of the seedlings receiving different treatment. - Prepare the seedlings for shipping by irrigating within 4 hours of shipping to saturate the media. The Government will make periodic inspections of the stock at the contractor's facility. Deficiencies noted at such inspections shall be promptly corrected. Final inspection and acceptance will be made at time of delivery (See 52.212-4 -Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (2015) (a) Inspection/Acceptance). Payment: a progress payment of 25 percent will be made after any needed thinning of seedlings. Final payment will be made at the unit contract price for all container seedlings accepted and shipped (transported by the Government) to the J. Herbert Stone Nursery, Central Point, Oregon. As an option item, the contractor may request payment for the contracted quantity of seedlings for any seed lots with poor germination whose actual germination proves to be less than stated in the seed information provided by the Government by more than 20%(i.e., stated germination is 70% and actual germination is 50%). The contractor will provide the minimum acceptable germination rate per species based on the laboratory germination rates provided by the government as documentation for payment of this option item. Period of Contract - Estimated: Date of award - November 1, 2017 QUOTES (PRICING) : All responsible sources may submit an offer, including unit pricing information per M/seedling delivered, Pricing, information establishing verification of technical capability to meet Specifications and Past Performance information are due to the USDA, Forest Service, Rogue River -Siskiyou National Forest, Attn: Contracting, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 97504-4119 by 4:30 p.m., local time, October 12, 2016. Send questions by FAX to +1 (555) 000-0000. - Attn: Contracting or by email: contact@example.gov Quotes shall be submitted for the total item. Quotes for less than the total item will not be considered. Award will be made on the best value to the Government. Facsimile quotes will be accepted. FAX Number: +1 (555) 000-0000 Electronic quotes to a Forest Service email account are not allowed and will be rejected. NOTES: Contractor must maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. Information on registration may be obtained via the internet at www.sam.gov All contractors/vendors must complete the electronic version of the Representations and Certifications in the SAM system. Offers should be mailed or hand delivered to: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Attn: Maggie Giuliani - Contracting 3040 Biddle Road Medford, OR 97504 Include the following on the sealed envelope: RFQ number: AG-04N7-S-16-0048 Name of Project: Supply of Containerized Seedlings (Q-Plugs) Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Offers may also be faxed to: +1 (555) 000-0000, Attn: Maggie Giuliani - Contracting