Monitoring Nutrient Levels and Bioactive Components in US Foods

THIS NOTICE IS A SOURCES-SOUGHT/MARKET RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ). RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT WILL BE USED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE ACQUISITION DECISIONS. The USDA Agricultural Research Service is seeking to locate vendors that are qualified to provide services collecting food and supplement samples for the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program's implementation of a nationally-based sampling survey of U.S. foods. Submissions must demonstrate the capability to procure individual units of various foods and dietary supplements (such as produce, canned/bottled items, refrigerated, frozen, and ready-to-eat foods, vitamins, etc.) from various food and health outlets. These outlets may include, but are not limited to: retail grocery and fast food outlets; full service restaurants; health food stores; convenience stores and road side stands. The vendor must have the ability to acquire requested samples, of various quantities, simultaneously from nationwide markets and to ship them, using various methods, to designated locations in a manner specified in the attached draft statement of work. This notice is open to all business concerns. However, in accordance with FAR 19.501, the Government is specifically seeking responses from small business concerns. Interested firms are invited to provide - via email transmission only - capability statements and must also include: point of contact; company name; company address; company telephone, fax, and Email address; and, business type and size classification. Responses shall be emailed to the attention of [email protected] by no later than 6:00 pm EST, 06/03/2013. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Responses will not be considered as requests to be added to a mailing list. Vendors interested in providing an offer will need to respond to a solicitation announcement that will be published separately.