The Government hereby submits a notice of intent to award a sole source firm fixed price contract to Bzak Landscaping for Marshaling Yard Operations in support of Ohio Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Eradication Project. Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition 1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity. Requiring Agency Name: USDA APHIS PPQ Ohio Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Project 3079 Angel Drive Bethel, Ohio 45106 Contracting Activity: USDA APHIS AAMD Contracting 250 Marquette Ave Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved. USDA defines bridge contracts as short-term contracts awarded upon the expiration of an existing contract to the incumbent contractor, on a sole source basis, when the supplies or services received under the contract are deemed critical to the Mission Area and must continue to be received until a competitive contract is awarded. A lapse in services during flight season would result in reemergence of ALB infestations on properties that have already been cleared around Clermont County. Due to unforeseen delays in the competitive process, a bridge FP IDIQ contract with the incumbent, Bzak Landscaping, Inc. is necessary. The contract will be for 5 months for ALB Marshal Yard Operations in Ohio. Task orders will be issued monthly to fund for operations. The current contract AG-6395-C-17-0102 ends Sept. 30th, 2022. This will give contracting activity enough time to put out another solicitation to establish a long-term contract. 3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value). The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) program requires contracting work for the grinding or incineration of ALB host and/or co‐mingled non host materials from trees, shrubs, limbs, branches, exposed surface roots and stumps (not all inclusive) infested or exposed to infestation by the Asian Longhorned Beetle in Clermont County Ohio. Trees removed from ALB tree removal contract and from local community go to the yard for grinding and chipping. The service is in support of the USDA/Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) program for the eradication of ALB in in Clermont County Ohio. The months of May through November is considered flight season where adult beetle emergence typically occurs. During this time, it is important that woody materials brought to the yard get grinded or chipped within 48 hours of receipt of material. The 48-hour grind rule is to ensure that regulated material, which may be harboring ALB, is deregulated quickly to minimize the likelihood that ALB adults emerge and disperse. Estimated Value: $400,000 4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, titled "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." 5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority. Bzak Landscaping, Inc is the current contractor performing this work. They already have access to the property and access to equipment needed to perform yard operations. 6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable. Full and open solicitation Solicitation 12639522Q0027 posted on 11/30/2022. After the solicitationclosing date, the solicitation was cancelled on 1/20/2022 due to changes in SOW. Full and open solicitation Solicitation 12639522Q0065 posted on 02/07/2022. Only one quote was received, but no award was made. Full and open solicitation 12639522Q0118 was posted on 3/29/2022 and closed 4/21/2022. Again only one unaccpetable quote was recieved. 7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Based on market research and IGCE the Estimated Value of $400,000 for 5 months is deemed fair and reasonable. This takes into account leasing of yard, yard maintenance, labor, fuel, and equipment cost. 8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted. Sources sought was conducted in 2020 showing that there were at least 3 interested contractors. The solicitation was posted three times and there was only one contractor who responded, but no award was made. Program has recently found other interested contractors. The new solicitation has been posted for the long-term contact to be established in sometime in January or February of 2023 9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition. N/A 10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition. Tree Care Specialist (TCS) Bzak Landscaping Ohio Mulch Davey Resource Group 11. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers tocompetition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated. To overcome competition for subsequent acquisitions, the contracting officer and program have done additional research to identify potential sources who are able to perform this work. This is NOT a request for quotes or proposals. Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to Contracting Officer, Kim Yen Tu, at
[email protected] via e-mail only (no phone calls/voice mail messages regarding questions will not be accepted and will not receive a response).