GRASS HAY CUBES

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has a requirement feed in Ames, IA 50010. SPECIFICATIONS FOR GRASS HAY CUBES Hay cubes content shall be a mixture of grasses (minimum 40%, maximum 75%) and alfalfa (minimum 25%, maximum 60%). Grasses shall be brome, orchard, and/or timothy. Protein content shall be no less than 11% and moisture content shall be no more than 13.0% and not less than 11.5%. Crude fiber shall be less than 30%. The minimal guaranteed protein content of the cubes in percent shall be placed on a tag attached to the bag or stamped on the bag. Hay shall not contain injurious foreign materials. The cubes shall be approximately 2 inches long x 1.5 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. The cubes shall be delivered in multi-walled bags that shall not be less than 50/50 all natural Kraft paper only (Plastic liners are not allowed.). Individual bag weight shall not exceed 60 pounds nor be less than 40 pounds (ideally 50 pounds). All bags within the same shipment must be consistent (NTE 1 pound difference) and shall not be tied with, nor contain wire, or backing boards or any other nonflammable materials. Bag size shall be approximately 20 inches wide x 5 inches deep and 38 inches long to facilitate stacking. Only new bags shall be used. The hay cubes shall be made in the field during haying season or hay baled directly off field and stored/processed in clean facilities free of possible contaminates. Hay cubes shall be cured in a ventilated building, a minimum of twenty (20) days prior to bagging. All fines shall be screened prior to or during the bagging process. The cubes shall be bagged in the same facility as they are cured in. The purpose of this sources sought is to inquire if there are vendors available to provide the above recipes for feed. The NAICS Code is 111110 In response to this sources sought please submit information on your company's capabilities to provide this type of product. Please also provide information on whether your company is the manufacturer or a distributor and a small or large business in accordance with the NAICS code listed in this sources sought. The Government acknowledges that responses to this sources sought are not binding offers. The information obtained will assist in our market research and future solicitation processes. The purpose of this sources sought is solely to obtain information and sources for our future requirement. Please send responses to this Sources Sought are by, January 16, 2020 at 10:00 am CST.