H--FEDERAL RICE INSPECTION SERVICES--REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

DESCRIPTIONThis is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). This is not a request for proposals and responses are in no way a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information solicited. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses will not be returned and respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packer and Stockyards Administration GIPSA, Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) is conducting market research to study competitive sourcing alternatives by determining the existence of commercial sources capable of providing rice inspection services under the Agriculture Marketing Act (AMA), of 1946, as amended. Study scope is approximately 32 GIPSA‘s positions (field office management, secretarial support, agricultural commodity graders and technicians) that provide rice inspection services which includes sampling, weighing and grading of approximately 37.5 million hundred-weights, of rice annually. GIPSA/FGIS is seeking information, comments, recommendations, and statements of capabilities from interested parties with related and continuous experience in any of the following areas: 1) quality inspection and factor analysis of rough rice, brown rice for processing, and milled rice 2) sampling 3) bulk and sack weighing 4) carrier stowage examination 5) administrative and program support. Quality Inspection and Factor Analysis: Quality inspection services includes the analysis of rice samples for grade, official factors, or official criteria or any combination of these according to the AMA regulations, instructions, and the request for inspection. In addition, the inspection service verifies equipment accuracy through equipment check-test programs. Factor analysis services include determining factors such as milling yield, total oil content, fatty acids, etc. Sampling: The sampling service includes sampling lots using FGIS approved methods of obtaining representative lot samples for analysis to determine quality based on grade, official factors, or official criteria or any combination of these according to the AMA regulations, and instructions. Weighing: The weighing service includes the monitoring of loading and weighing of lots by facility weighing personnel to determine the quantity of lots inspected. Unless automated methods are in place, the contractor must monitor weighing activities and verify control board settings, digital weight displays, and printer operation and output. Stowage Examination: Stowage examination services includes examining carriers to determine if stowage areas are clean, dry, and free of infestation, rodents, toxic substance, and foreign odor; and suitable to store or carry bulk or sacked rice. Administrative and Program Support: The support services sought are office administration and program management services to support the mission and operational requirements. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Services will be performed in Stuttgart, and Jonesboro Arkansas, and Greenville, Mississippi at rice milling facilities, elevators, ports, barge load-outs, midstream waterways, rail yards, warehouses, dock unloading and loading facilities, and floating rigs. RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS Interested parties are encouraged to provide a response to this RFI. Responses must contain sufficient documentation to convey the organization’s capability to provide the defined inspection services. Documentation must address separately each of the above five areas. Additionally responders must provide an overview of their company. This overview must include: company name, brief description of company history, corporate background related to rice inspection, business classification status (large, 8(a), woman- owed, Hub-Zone, etc.), explanation of core services company currently provides to customers, a contact person’s name , phone number and email address. The closing date for the receipt of responses is June 2, 2006 at 12 Noon, Eastern Standard Time. Send your responses to the USDA Point of Contact listed below. POINT OF CONTACT Larry Nelson, Contracting Officer Phone: 612-336-3225 Fax: 612-370-2106, Email: [email protected]