Description
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), New York Animal Import Center, 200 Drury Lane, Rock Tavern, New York, has a requirement for hay to feed animals that are to be a part of a quarantine procedure for the period October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004. Deliver to: USDA, APHIS, VS, 200 Drury Lane, Rock Tavern, New York 12575. A fixed-price blanket purchase order, for up to 180 tons alfalfa heavy grass mix and up to 10 tons alfalfa second cutting, will result. Delivery orders will be placed on an as-needed basis per verbal order. F.O.B. destination. Small business set-aside under NAICS 111940. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE AUGUST 15, 2003, by 2:00 p.m. local time. Submit written or faxed quotation to "Purchasing section", at (612) 370-2136. 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. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses which are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 01-15. Applicable FAR clauses are incorporated by reference: Prompt Payment 52.249-1; Fixed price 52.243-1; Evaluation - Commercial items 52.202-2; Offeror Representations and Certifications 52.212-3; Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items 52.212-4; Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items 52.212-5. All responsible sources may submit a quotation for consideration. Offers should include: Company name: _______________________________ Company Address: ____________________________________________________________ Business size: _________________ tax payer identification number___________________ and DUNS number_____________________. Cost per ton, delivered: $ ____________ SPECIFICATIONS Item #1: Alfalfa, Heavy Grass Mix A. Mixture percentages: The mixture of alfalfa and grasses will not exceed 70% grasses. B. Leafiness of alfalfa: Fifty percent or more of the stems will have no less than one-fifth of the leaves clinging. C. Color: No less than 66 percent green color. D. Maturity: Alfalfa shall be in early to mid-maturity stages. Hay in which a majority of the alfalfa stalks bear brown and/or black seed will not meet these requirements. E. Foreign material: No greater than 5 percent. F. Non-injurious foreign material: No greater than 5 percent. G. Conditions: Hay shall have a good odor and shall not be under-cured, heating, hot, wet, dusty, moldy, caked, badly broken, badly weathered, or otherwise of distinct low quality. H. Moisture percentage: At time of delivery, moisture percentage will be no less than 12 percent and no greater than 20 percent. I. Injurious foreign material: Shall be free of injurious foreign material. Item #2: Alfalfa, Second Cutting A. Mixture Percentages: Alfalfa shall be no greater than 10 percent other legumes or grasses. B. Leafiness of alfalfa: Fifty percent or more of the stems shall have no less than one-fifth of the leaves clinging. C. Color: No less than 66 percent green color. D. Maturity: Alfalfa shall be in early- to mid-maturity stages. Hay in which a majority of the alfalfa stalks bear brown and/or black seed till not meet these requirements. E. Non-injurious foreign material: No greater than 5 percent. F. Condition: Hay shall have a good odor and shall not be under-cured, heating, hot, wet, dusty, moldy, caked, badly broken, badly weathered, or otherwise of distinct low quality. G. Moisture percentage: At time of delivery, moisture percentage will be no less than 12 percent and no greater than 20 percent. H. Injurious foreign material: Shall be free of injurious foreign material. The hay shall be delivered in solid, rectangular bales, tired with rat-and rot-proof twine. Bales that are ragged, vary in length, have wire or twine of unequal tension, unsightly or difficult to handle, or broken will not be accepted. Each bale shall not weigh less than 50 pounds nor more than 75 pounds. NOTE: A variance of 5% will be allowed to accommodate delivery of full loads. Hay shall be delivered directly from storage facilities via clean vehicles not used in the transportation of livestock. DEFINITIONS 1. Foreign material: Will be any, but not limited to: a) weeks; b) certain grasses, if mature, such as wild-rye, annual bromegrass, pigeon grass (foxtail); c) sedges/rushes that are coarse and woody; and d) other objectionable matter which occurs in May. 2. Non-injurious foreign material: Will be any of the following, but not limited to: a) weed, b) coarse or woody plants, c) cornstalks or corn stubble, and d) other objectionable material in the hay. 3. Injurious foreign material: Includes, but is not limited to, hardware, such as wire, nails and other materials considered harmful to livestock. 4. Color: Percentage of green color means the amount of green color in field cured hay computed as a percentage, based on the amount of green color remaining after allowing for maturity, sun bleach, dew, rain, or other damage. INSPECTION Inspection will take place within 5 working days from receipt of delivery, at the consignee's premises. Deliveries that are deemed not to be in compliance with the specifications are to be removed within 5 calendar days. Replacement hay shall be delivered at the time the rejected hay is removed. If a dispute arises, the hay will be inspected by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets within 10 calendar days of delivery. Their decision is final. The cost of the inspection will be paid by the New York Department of Agriculture & Markets will not be accepted. DELIVERIES Deliveries shall be made within 7 calendar days after receipt of an order. The order may be oral or written and will be issued as hay is required. Deliveries shall be made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Deliveries may be required, in an emergency, on Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal holidays.