The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Cotton Program (CP) intends to procure the following: Pickup of Cotton Samples from Gins and Warehouses at points shown in the specifications listed below and delivery of sacks to USDA, AMS, COTTON PROGRAM, DUMAS CLASSING OFFICE, 996 Hwy 65 South, Dumas, AR 71639. This procurement will be awarded as a Firm Fixed Price contract. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE August 19, 2011 BY 2:00 p.m. central time. ALL QUOTES MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: USDA, AMS, COTTON AND TOBACCO PROGRAMS, 3275 APPLING ROAD, MEMPHIS, TN 38133, ATTN: BEVERLY BROWN. QUOTES SUBMITTED VIA FAX MACHNINE OR E-MAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Commercial item acquisition regulations per FAR Part 12 will apply to this procurement. 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; quotations are being requested and a separate WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The provisions and clauses incorporated into this solicitation document are those in effect at the time of publication. Provisions and clauses incorporated by reference have the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. The full text of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agriculture Federal Acquisition Regulations supplement (AGAR) can be accessed on the internet at http://www.arnet.gov/far and http://www.usda.gov/procurement/policy/agar/html. THIS IS A 100% Small Business Set-Aside using NAICS code for this procurement 484220 with a small business size standard is $21.5 million. The Department of Labor Wage Determination 05-2517 REV (15) applies to this requirement. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Past Performance and Price. Past Performance is the most important factor. Past Performance subcriteria will include: (1) Expierence Working in the Cotton Industry; (2) Quality of Service; (3) Problem Resolution; (4) Timeliness of Performance; (5) Business Relations/Customer Service. The Government will use all available resources and information available in doing the evaluation for past performance. Offerors responding to this solicitation must submit the following: A signed/completed SF-1449; completed Offerors Representations and Certifications or be registered in ORCA (Online Representation and Certification) at https://orca.bpn.gov/; a brief description describing their company and their experience in the cotton industry; a list of 3 references for the same or similar services. The reference list must include the contract number, name, address and phone number with whom the contract is with, a brief description of services provided, estimated dollar amount for the contract. The attached Reference Questionnaire must be completed by each reference listed. Quotes shall be submitted based on cost per bag. Offerors must also include with their cost per bag the base price for fuel used in estimating their cost per bag. The estimated number of sacks for Dumas Route 1 is 13,250 bags. OFFERORS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE SOLICIATION PACKAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY. If an offeror's quote does not contain all of the items listed above, the quote may be considered incomplete for evaluation purposes and no further consideration will be given to the offeror's quote, thereby making an offeror ineligible for award. For additional questions concerning the routes or the bidding process, equipment required, or insurance requirements please call the Contracting Officer, Beverly Brown @ 901-384-3000 or via e-mail at
[email protected]. Please submit all questions in writing.