J&A for Performance Extension

AGENCY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: Minneapolis Business Services DATE: September 26, 2012 FACT: 1. Description of Contract Action: The contract action is a modification to contract AG-6395-C-10-0008 which will extend the term of the contract four months and add one six month optional period. The purpose of the modification is to continue contract service while the solicitation for the new contract is reviewed by the Office of General Council for a solicitation GAO protest. 2. Description of Supplies or Services: The service will be for the continued aerial release of sterilized fruit flies to support the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Preventative Release Program in the Los Angeles Basin and as needed to support additional fruit fly aerial release programs in California. 3. Reasons for Authority Cited: Fruit flies are among the most destructive, feared and well-publicized pests of fruits and vegetables around the world. In the United States, California and Florida are at highest risk from exotic fruit fly establishment. This conclusion is based on the historical record of frequent outbreaks and the costs to eradicate them, the high approach rate of fruit fly host material at the major ports of entry coinciding with the climatic conditions favorable to establishments of reproducing populations, public opposition to chemical control measures, and the availability of hosts. Fruit flies spend their larval stages feeding and growing in over 400 host plants. If aerial sterile fruit fly release requirement is discontinued while GAO reviews the solicitation protest it will causes economic losses from destruction and spoiling of host commodities by larvae, increased costs associated with implementing other control measures, and loss of market share due to restrictions on shipment of host commodities. Without continued aerial release of sterile flies, the pest fruit flies will become obstacles to agricultural diversification and trade when they become established in areas. The market value of fruit fly host commodities totaled about $7.2 billion in the United States in 2002, with approximately $5.1 billion of that grown in California and $1.8 billion in Florida. 4. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The solicitation for the new contract was posted on FedBizops.gov. 5. Fair and Reasonable Determination: The fixed price per flight hour for the additional period of performance will remain the same as FY12 Option period two of the contract. These prices were deemed fair and reasonable due to adequate price competition at initial award. 6. Market Research: Market research was performed for the solicitation and multiple vendors were located and were given an opportunity to submit a proposal for the new contract. 7. Other Supporting Factors: None. 8. Interested Sources: None 9. Actions to Increase Competition: The solicitation for the new contract was posted on FedBizOpps.gov and received multiple proposals.