87 -- Hay Cubes, Grass

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Veterinary Service Laboratory, 1800 Dayton Road, Ames, IA has a requirement for Grass Hay Cubes for the period January 1, 2002, through September 30, 2002. Deliver to: USDA, APHIS, NVSL, 1800 Dayton Road, Ames, IA 50010. A fixed-price blanket purchase order, for up to 200 tons Grass Hay Cubes, will result. F. O. B. Destination. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 9, 2002, by 2:00 p.m. Local time. Submit written or faxed quotation to "Purchasing section", at (612) 370-2136. Simplified procurement procedures will be used as well as commercial item acquisition regulations per FAR 12. This is a Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS Code 111998. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses which are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-27. Applicable FAR clauses are incorporated by reference; Prompt Payment 52.249-1; Changes-Fixed-Price 52.243-1; Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items 52-121-1; Evaluation-Commercial Items 52.212-2; Offeror Representations and Certifications 52.212-3; Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items 52-212-4; Contract Terms Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items 52.212-5; Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside 52-219-6. All responsible sources may submit a quotation for consideration. Offers should include tax payer identification number and DUNS number. SPECIFICATIONS: Hay cubes shall be a mixture of 70% grasses and 30% Alfalfa. Grasses shall be brome, orchard or timothy. Protein content shall be no less than 11% and moisture content shall be a maximum of 12.5%. Crude fiber shall be less than 30%. The minimal guaranteed protein content of the cubes in percent shall be placed on a tag attached to the bag or stamped on the bag. Hay shall not contain injurious foreign materials. The cubes shall be approximately 2 inches long x 1.5 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. The cubes shall be delivered in multi-walled bags that shall not be less than 50/50 all natural Kraft paper only. (Plastic liners are not allowed). The bags shall weigh between 40 and 50 pounds and shall not be tied with, nor contain, wire, or backing boards or any other nonflammable materials. Bag size shall be approximately 20 inches wide x 4 inches deep and 38 inches long to facilitate stacking. Only new bags shall be used. The hay cubes shall be made in the field during haying season. Hay cubes shall be cured in a ventilated building, a minimum of twenty (20) days prior to bagging. All fines shall be screened prior to or during the bagging process. The cubes shall be bagged in the same facility as they are cured in. DELIVERIES SHALL BE MADE FROM the plant in which the hay cubes are manufactured and bagged in clean, closed vehicles not used in the transportation of livestock. Each shipment shall be made as through shipment to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories with transfer from truck to truck or trailer through terminals and unloaded at location specified by the NVSL. The contractor shall assure that the material conforms to the specifications prior to delivery. Upon delivery at destination, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all parts of a shipment, if in the opinion of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), does not meet the requirements contained in the contract. Bags that are torn so that hay cubes are exposed on arrival at the NVSL will not be accepted for use. The Government reserves the right to inspect the processing and storage plant of hay cubes before, or anytime after the con