Description
The USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), International Service, Riverdale, MD, intends to procure the services of a consultant to develop and provide training to safeguarding specialists and other International Services personnel on emerging pest and disease situations. Submit faxed quotations to Purchasing Section, at (612) 370 2136, Attention Joanne Mann. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE MAY 22, 2007, BY 10:00 a.m. local time. Simplified procurement procedures will be used as well as commercial item acquisition regulations per FAR 12. 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. A firm fixed price purchase order will be awarded. This is a small business set-aside. NAICS code 541690, business size $6 million. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This is a new requirement. Period of performance shall be completed within 18 months from date of award. These requirements consist of one line item, but for the purpose of reviewing specific tasks, see the complete sub line items. Award will use firm fixed pricing per unit pricing, with a not to exceed hours as indicated per task. This solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses which are in effect through the most current Federal Acquisition Circular. Applicable FAR clauses are incorporated by reference and may be viewed in full text at 222.arnet.gov/far: Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items 52.212 1; Evaluation Commercial items 52.212 2; Offeror Representations and Certifications 52.212 3; Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items 52.212 4; Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders Commercial Items 52.212 5; Taxpayer Identification 52.204-3; Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number 52.204-6; Central Contractor Registration 52.204-7; Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside 52.219-6; Prohibition of Segregated Facilities 52.222-21; Equal Opportunity 52.222-26; Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans 52.222-35; Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities 52.222-36; Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veteran 52.222-37; Terms for Financing of Purchase of Commercial Items 52.232-29; Installment Payments for Commercial Items 52.232-30; Payments by Electronic Funds Transfer ? Central Contractor Registration 52.232-33; Privacy or Security Safeguards 52.239-1. RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A QUOTATION FOR CONSIDERATION. All offers must be signed. Offeror Representations and Certifications 52.212-3 must be completed and returned with offer. In addition, a complete offer shall also include: Company name; Contact Name and Phone Number; DUNS number; Taxpayer Identification number; and Business Size. Offers may be submitted on the SF-279 or on the offeror?s letterhead addressing all the elements in this requirement. A. BACKGROUND: To reduce the threat of exotic pest introductions in the United States, a primary responsibility of APHIS is to manage pest risks at the point-of-origin, i.e., off-shore. One of the most damaging agricultural pest groups threatening U.S. agriculture is the Tephritidae family of fruit flies. APHIS IS cooperates with foreign countries in surveillance and control programs of economically significant fruit flies including the Mediterranean fruit fly, Medfly, and the Mexican fruit fly. Other exotic and destructive fruit flies of immediate risk to the U.S. from Latin America and the Caribbean include West Indian fruit fly, sapote fruit fly, guava fruit fly and South American fruit fly. Because of increases in trade, the United States is also threatened by pests from the Old World. The identification of sources and pathways of plant pests including these fruit flies is important for formulating efficient exclusion and mitigative strategies. To further safeguard U.S. agriculture, APHIS has implemented the Offshore Pest Information Program, OPIP, which involves the placement of safeguarding specialists overseas. The primary task of these specialists is to gather relevant pest and disease information which is necessary to identify the risk potential of commodities exported to the United States. B. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF WORK: To develop and provide training to safeguarding specialists and other IS personnel on emerging pest and disease situations; how to determine what information to report for the purpose of enhancing performance and ability to gather relevant pest information that will be useful for evaluating and mitigating the threat of invasive species entry into the United States; to help develop and maintain guidelines and areas of focus for the safeguarding specialists and other IS personnel on the safeguarding program; to provide input on the maintenance on the OPIS pest list. C. TASKS OR REQUIREMENTS: 1. Analyze the OPIP pest list and provide recommendation for criteria and needed changes. How accomplished: Review of technical literature; interviews with program managers and pest experts; data gathering of domestic and international pest programs; participation in APHIS meetings NOT TO EXCEED: 100 HOURS $ ______________/hour and pending availability of continued OPIP funding for FY 2008 2. Develop, coordinate, and participate in training courses for the safeguarding specialists, in coordination with APHIS staff. This training will include, but is not limited to, formal classroom/workshops, on-the-job training, and site visits, including meetings with foreign government officials and other counterparts. Some training will be in groups, other training may be one-on-one with the safeguarding officer and the Contractor. The location of the training will be determined in consultation with the Deputy Administrator, IS, PPQ and/or his/her designee. The training course and formal workshop will be approximately one week in duration, and will be offered at locations including, but not limited to, the Caribbean basin and Africa. How accomplished: Develop and Provide training in safeguarding locations as listed above and/or as determined jointly with the Deputy Administrator, PPQ, and/or his designee. NOT TO EXCEED: 280 hours $ ___________/Hour 3. Participate with APHIS staff to develop invasive species Guidelines plans for safeguarding areas as determined by the Deputy Administrator, PPQ and/or his designee. How accomplished: On-site visits of safeguarding locations; interviews and coordination with IS and PPQ Headquarters, Regional and Area directors; review of technical literature, Code of Federal Regulations, etc. NOT TO EXCEED: 100 hours $ ____________/Hour and pending availability of continued OPIP funding in FY 2008 4. Miscellaneous: equipment and supplies, and local travel NOT TO EXCEED $500 D. TRAVEL: Tasks 1, 2 and 3 will require travel to the safeguarding locations abroad and other locations as identified in conjunction with the Deputy Administrator, IS, PPQ, or his/her designee. Travel will be coordinated with APHIS IS to accomplish country clearances, etc. Likely location including APHIS offices in the United States and IS offices in the Caribbean basin and Africa. Travel costs (airfare, lodging, and meals and incidentals) in support of this contract will be reimbursed by APHIS, and in accordance with rates set by the Federal Travel Regulations. All travel preformed in accordance with this contract must have prior approval by the Program Technical Point of Contract. The Contractor shall retain appropriate documentation of other direct costs (such as shipping and supplies). Costs will be reimbursed to the contractor in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations. The approximate cost associated with travel to Africa is $5,500; to Caribbean basin is $3,000. NOT TO EXCEED $8,500 Performance/Delivery Requirements APHIS PPQ reserves the right to request a meeting with the Contractor, at the beginning of the contract period, or any other time during the contract period, to review and clarify areas of the Statement of Work. The Contractor shall keep APHIS PPQ apprised of work progress by monthly meetings, updates, and/or briefing reports. It is the contractor?s responsibility to ensure appropriate medical insurance for international travel is provided. E. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION: The Contractor is responsible for safeguarding any government property provided for contract use. The Contractor shall ensure that all card keys/keys issued are not lost or misplace and are not used by unauthorized persons. F. SECURITY: The Contractor shall wear a USDA-issued badge at all times while working at the USDA located at 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD. The Contractor shall display the badge to security guard personnel when entering the building. G. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USDA, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD, for meetings and conferences; Contractor residence; Safeguarding locations abroad; and other locations as necessary. H. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Tasks 1, 2, and 3 shall be completed within 18 months of the beginning date of this contract, not to exceed 480 hours. I. TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA: To ensure credible delivery of the product and services, provider must have demonstrated professional experience in and knowledge of: 1) APHIS International Services and PPQ programs and foreign national plant protection counterparts on fruit flies and other emerging plant pest issues; 2) in-depth knowledge of APHIS foreign quarantines; 3) risk identification, pathway analysis, and risk mitigation methods of high risk pests and other emerging plant pests; and 4) background experience in how to conduct training. Additionally, knowledge of the APHIS agricultural quarantine inspection methodologies and procedures, pre-clearance programs, and post-harvest quarantine treatments are highly desirable in highlighting the various aspects of Federal activities that are available for risk mitigation. The Contractor will work part-time on this project from his/her residence, the USDA facility at 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD, the safeguarding locations, and other locations as required and determined in conjunction with the Deputy Administrator, PPQ and/or his/her designee.