A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) 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, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, 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 112930, with a Size Standard of $1.0 Million and the PSC Code is 8820. 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 service(s): 001) Thirty (30) American Naïve Mink (Four Years Old or Under AND Unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2) Scope of Work : The USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA is seeking sources for American Naïve Mink. Background : This study is important to human health, because mink can amplify/spread the virus to other mink and back to humans (reverse zoonosis). Therefore, new mutations could be introduced into the virus during replication in mink and effect the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. This study is important to mink health because infection can be fatal, so a better understanding of infection dynamics and transmission can help shape prevention and control measures for the industry. The only way to study infection dynamics and the ability of virus to spread between mink is to inoculate animals. There is no functional in vitro or computer modeling that can replace host/pathogen studies for determining the pathogenesis and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in mink. With the recent spread of SARS-CoV-2 across the globe and the documentation of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on mink farms in multiple countries, it is important to understand the role mink may serve in amplifying and/or spreading the virus to other mink and human caregivers in regular close contact. Technical Requirements: Breed – must be American Mink to allow direct comparison across planned related studies. Age – 0-4 years old Sex – either male or female are acceptable Quantity – 30 of similar age and size Animals should NOT receive any vaccinations for SARS-Cov-2 Pre-purchase testing is required to confirm animals have no antibodies for SARS-Cov-2 Vaccinated with Distemper and Pneumonia Botulism Mink shall demonstrate no signs of clinical illness Mink shall have sound legs and good eyes. Mink shall be sourced from the same farm. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection Required on all animals Animal shall be deliverable onsite at USDA no later than January 3rd, 2022 Delivery of all animals in 1 shipment to Ames in one temperature-controlled vehicle Government Furnished: Government-furnished support is limited to security access to the equipment in the NCAH facility, replacement parts not otherwise covered under this agreement, AC power (110VAC) and standard office lighting. Key Deliverable: Thirty (30) American Naïve Mink (Four Years Old or Under AND Unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2) Delivery: Delivery to be made to the USDA-ARS NADC located at 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. The vendor shall provide all services on site for USDA-ARS Ames, IA and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract. Payment anticipated to be made quarterly in arrears by invoices submitted through IPP by or before January 3rd, 2022. Capability Statement: Companies who have the experience, 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 proposal, 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), SDVOSB, or Women-Owned Small Business. To be eligible, all vendors 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. Finally, to be eligible, all vendors must be NDAA 889 Certified. If they do not currently have a NDAA 889 Certification, then they must complete the attached NDAA 889 Certification form and submit it to
[email protected] so that they can be added to the list of NDAA 889 Certified vendors. Submitting a Capability Statements: Responses should be submitted via email to
[email protected] by Monday, December 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST) . Questions in regards to this sources sought must be submitted through email . 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 pre-solicitation 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.