Description
SOLE SOURCE Emergency purchase of product needed in the emergency response that aims to curtail the ongoing expansion of the invasive Mexican Fruit Fly ( Anastrepha ludens ) in quarantined areas in the State of Texas. Invasive fruit flies are among the world's most devastating pests of fruits and vegetables. The Mexican fruit fly ( Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) is a serious agricultural pest. It can infest more than 50 types of fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus and mango. The damage makes crops inedible and unmarketable, with significant economical loses. Many U.S. agricultural commodities are susceptible to the attack of this fruit fly, and thus, we put all efforts to eradicate newly detected incursions as soon as possible to stop the spread and ensure that this pest doesn’t become established in the United States. We currently have areas in Texas where this pest has been detected. We have established quarantines and deployed an emergency response. Until eradication is completed, Mexfly will continue to pose a serious threat for the Texas citrus industry and to many other valuable U.S. crops, jeopardizing the export of such commodities. Per codified regulations in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 301.32-3(a) (c), an area of the State of Texas is under a designated quarantine for the Mexican Fruit Fly ( Anastrepha ludens ). Presently, 1,271 square miles are under quarantine, which includes 12,408 acres of relevant commercial citrus production in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy. This emergency purchase of 2-Component (2C) Fruit Flies Lure is essential for surveying fruit fly populations in the quarantined area and for monitoring the imminent risk of quarantine expansion, critical activities of the emergency response that aims to eradicate this pest. A lapse of access to 2-Component (2C) Fruit Flies Lure lures will hinder the fruit fly program’s ability to survey and monitor fruit fly populations, jeopardizing eradication efforts, and prolonging the duration of quarantine restrictions. Scientific studies and field data demonstrate that 2-Component (2C) Fruit Flies Lure cones are by far the most attractive lure available for Mexfly. Using the best lure available will ensure the early detection of new Mexfly populations, increase accuracy in delimiting population outbreaks, and the timely, effective, and efficient application of treatments. If the 2C Fruit Flies Lure cones are not available for eradication efforts, the emergency response will be prolonged, increasing in complexity, size, and magnitude, and associated costs, and negatively impacting the agriculture, farmers, and citrus producers in the state of Texas. Scentry Biologicals is the ONLY company that currently produces 2-Component (2C) Fruit Flies Lure as a cone formulation. This company has consistently produced these lures according to USDA- APHIS-PPQ-Fruit Fly program’s specifications for at least a decade. Because of the fruit fly program’s long-standing experience and successful usage of these cones, and lack of any commercial alternatives, the 2C Fruit Fly Lure cones from Scentry Biologicals will need only the Lot Quality Assurance testing (from 10 free samples) for this purchase, a process that Scentry Biologicals is familiar with. Todd K. Bierl (Major Program Contracting Officer) Emergency Acquisition Marketing and Regulatory Program Business (MRPBS) Acquisition and Asset Management Division (AAMD) Acquisition Branch Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Office#(612)336-3465 Cell# (612)500-1321/(763)286-8084 this is an urgent request in support of an ongoing emergency response. Fruit Fly 2-Component Lure