A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Disadvantaged Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business, AND/OR Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) contractors available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY . This is NOT a solicitation Announcement or Request for Quote. It does NOT constitute any commitment by the Government. NO award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources and to determine the capability of Small Business and/or Large Business companies to provide the supplies/services described below. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. Department of Agriculture (ARS) requests responses from ALL socioeconomic categories in order to gain a more complete understanding of the market for these products and service. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will NOT award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to limit competition to 8(a), HUBZone, Disadvantaged, VOSB, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, EDWOSB, or other small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition. The NAICS code for the expected acquisition is 111150 - Corn Farming, with a Size Standard of $1.0 Million and the PSC Code is F009. Any subsequent procurement will be conducted as a commercial item purchased in accordance with FAR Part 12 and as a Simplified Acquisition Procedure in accordance with FAR Part 13. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following services: 001) Six Corn Isolated Crossing Blocks Scope of Work : The USDA-ARS, Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) Project of the Plant Introduction Research Unit (PIRU) in Ames, IA is seeking sources for six corn isolated crossing blocks for production of topcross (hybrid) seed for growing between May 2022 and November 2022. Background : Subject to local weather, soil moisture conditions, minimal disease, and low insect pressure, a central corn belt location is required. Central Illinois and central Iowa have been determined to be locations best suited for the requirement for the isolated block planting required for this research. All isolations shall be grown within a 6-month period beginning in May 2022 to be harvested and returned in approximately November 2022. Technical Requirements: Tasks and requirements that the contractor must provide are as listed below. Contractor will provide all field activities including: Land for six isolated crossing fields Land located in either central Illinois or central Iowa Land preparation (tillage) Fertilization Weed and pest control Field Isolation Requirements Minimum of 500 feet separation of each isolation from other corn. Isolated field to accommodate numbers of female entries as listed below. Isolation 1: 500 female plot rows Isolation 2: 500 female plot rows Isolation 3: 500 female plot rows Isolation 4: 1,488 female plot rows Isolation 5: 1,636 female plot rows Isolation 6: 300 female plot rows Male:Female Planting Pattern and Delays Male-female planting pattern of 4:4 First male row planted 100-150 growing degree units (GDU) before female entries are planted Second and third male rows planted at same time as female entries Fourth male row planted 100-150 GDU after females are planted Isolated crossing field must be bordered on each side by 4 rows of male. Planting Female plot rows planted in 12-foot plot rows Fields to be planted as close to May 1, 2022 as conditions allow and no later than June 10, 2022. Maintenance Male rows to be monitored for off-type plants and these plants removed every 10-14 days until pollination is completed. Tassel removal (detasseling) of female rows to start as soon as tassels are seen in these rows and before first plants silk. Progress Reports: Written report of project status, crop development, and field condition for each isolation sent to
[email protected] every 2 weeks after planting. Harvest Timing Female plot rows are harvested individually by row ID Female plot rows are harvested when latest entries reach ¾ mile line seed development Seed Drying Ears dried using forced air heat NOT to exceed 95 F Ears dried to approximately 12% moisture Shipping Preparation Dried seed in harvest bags to be boxed and prepared for freight shipment. Contractor will provide information on containers and weigh sufficient for USDA to procure shipping services. Harvested material are to be carefully boxed for commercial shipping back to Ames, Iowa and information communicated by email to
[email protected] by November 15, 2022. Seed will be shipped to: USDA-ARS-NCRPIS 1305 State Ave. Ames, IA 50014 Government Furnished: The USDA, ARS GEM Project will furnish the items listed below: Male seedstock for each of six isolated crossing fields. Packeted female seed in 2.5” wide packets. Each packet numbered and counted at 20k to 24k per packet. Mesh harvest bags. Row band harvest tags for each entry. Shipping to USDA-ARS-NCRPIS, 1305 State Ave., Ames, IA 50014 Key Deliverables Corn Isolated Crossing Blocks - 4,924 total female plot rows Isolation 1: 500 female plot rows Isolation 2: 500 female plot rows Isolation 3: 500 female plot rows Isolation 4: 1,488 female plot rows Isolation 5: 1,636 female plot rows Isolation 6: 300 female plot rows Field Lane(s) Field Preparation Field Planting Field Maintenance Field Harvest Seed Drying Shipping Preparation Capability Statement: Companies who have technically acceptable products, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is NOT expected to be a quote, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. Companies should also indicate whether they are a Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Disadvantaged Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business, AND/OR an Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). To be eligible, all companies must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register in SAM. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. Vendor must include their DUNS# on their capability statements. Submitting a Capability Statements: Responses should be submitted via email to
[email protected] by Friday, March 25, 2022 at 5:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST) . Questions in regards to this Sources Sought must be submitted through email to
[email protected]. Telephone inquiries will NOT be accepted. Disclaimer: This notice does NOT obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are also advised that under NO obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback about any of the information received. After review of the responses received, the Government MAY issue a combined synopsis and solicitation. No proprietary, sensitive, confidential or classified information shall be included with your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.