The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Cotton & Tobacco Programs (C&T) 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 & TOBACCO PROGRAMS FLORENCE CLASSING OFFICE located at 1725 RANGE WAY FLORENCE SC 29501. This procurement will be awarded as a Firm Fixed Price contract. This contract will be an indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract with a guaranteed minimum of 100 sacks. The contract will be for a period of one year. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE JULY 15, 2009 BY 4:00 p.m. central daylight time. 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. 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 of $23.5 million. The Department of Labor Wage Determination 05-2477 Rev # 7 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 sub criteria will include: (1) Experience Working in the Cotton Industry; (2) Quality of Product or 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 or more 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. The reference must then mail the reference questionnaire to the contracting officer at the following address: Amanda Stollings, 3275 Appling Road, Room 1 Memphis, Tennessee 38133. Quotes shall be submitted based on cost per bag. Offeror's 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 NORTHERN ROUTE 1 is 9893 bags. OFFEROR'S ARE ADVISED TO READ THE SOLICIATION PACKAGE IN IT'S 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, Amanda Stollings @ 901-384-3310 or via e-mail at
[email protected]