This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 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. Solicitation number AG-0116-S-08-0017 is being used for this solicitation. Please reference this number on any and all communication regarding this project. The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-24. This requirement is for full and open competition under NAICS 541712, small business size standard of 500 employees. Contractors are responsible for reading and complying with this entire combined synopsis/solicitation and monitoring this website: http://www.fbo.gov for any additional information relating to this requirement. The Forest Service will not contact any vendor notifying of changes regarding this solicitation. Submission of quotations shall be in accordance with the instructions identified in this requirement. Contractors with the demonstrated capability and financial capacity to provide specified services in accordance with the specified delivery schedule are invited to respond to this request. BACKGROUND: The PNW Research Station has developed a food-based habitat evaluation system for deer habitat and the US Forest Service/Tongass National Forest wants to apply it for both planning and monitoring. The name of the system is Forage Resource Evaluation System for Habitat or the short name FRESH-Deer. The system has both a deer and moose application. Its Forage Nutrition Database is very important and needs to be verified and expanded for general use. The PNW Research Station currently is in possession of approximately 500 freeze-dried samples of deer forages collected within an experimental design for evaluating site-specific variation in digestible protein and digestible energy. Laboratory analysis of those samples will be a huge contribution to the Forage Nutrition Database of FRESH-Deer and of great help to the Tongass Nation Forest for routine application of FRESH-Deer. It also will provide a test of the significance of digestible protein as a potential limiting factor for deer on the Tongass and may have major implications for reducing the amount of future effort directed at nutritional analyses. Therefore, the Tongass National Forest has elected to contract for laboratory analyses of the freeze dried samples and their incorporation into the FRESH-Deer Database. STATEMENT OF WORK: PERFORM THE FOLLOWING LABORATORY ANALYSES: 1. Oven-dry dry matter determination 2. Total Nitrogen (% dry matter)- See Note 1 3. Tannin Astringency, measured by BSA precipitation (mg/mg dry matter)- See Note 2 4. Van Soest Sequential Fiber Analysis (% NDF, ADF, ADL, & AIA dry matter)- See Note 3 5. Gross Energy (cal/gram)- See Note 4 NOTES: 1. Can be by Kjeldahl method or autoanalyzer or other currently accepted method. 2. By Martin & Martin (1982. Oecologia 54:205-211) technique or by McArt et al (2006. J Chem.Ecol. 32:1367-1377) microplate technique. 3. By Van Soest technique as modified with sodium sulfite by Hanley et al (1992. Ecology 73:537-541). 4. By bomb calorimeter. NUMBER OF SAMPLES TO BE ANALYZED: Line Item 1: Full Analysis of (1) Oven-dry dry matter determination, (2) Total Nitrogen, (3) Tannin Astringency, (4) Van Soest Sequential Fiber Analysis and (5) Gross Energy: Total of 453 samples. All samples consist of equal or greater than 7.0 gram freeze-dried and ground plant material. Line Item 2: Partial Analysis (for calculation of digestible protein only) consisting of (1) Oven-dry dry matter determination, (2) Total Nitrogen, and (3) Tannin Astringency only: Total of 21 samples. All of these samples consist of great than 3.0 but less than 6.0 grams of freeze-dried and ground material. GOVERNMENT PROVIDED SAMPLES: All samples will be provided by the Government to the contractor approximately 15 days after notification of award and shipped to the laboratory in individually numbered, sealed plastic jars. The Government anticipates an estimated award date by May 15, 2008. DELIVERABLES: Contractor will submit the analyses results in spreadsheet form in an excel document. The spreadsheet should list each individually number sample with their results. The spreadsheet is to be sent electronically and hard copy to the following address: Juneau Forestry Sciences Lab Attn: Thomas Hanley 2770 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A Juneau, AK 99801 Email:
[email protected] Once the results have been received the Government will review for quality and respond to the contractor with acceptance or rejection within two weeks. REQURED DELIVERY OF ALL ANLAYSES: The Government requires delivery for all analyses to be completed, received and accepted by September 30, 2009. However, the Government desires an earlier completion date. Without prejudicing evaluation of quotes, contractors may propose an earlier delivery schedule. Any proposed delivery schedule will apply to the resultant contract. If no proposed delivery schedule is provided, then the required date will apply. Please note: any quote that proposes delivery of a quantity under such terms or conditions that delivery will not clearly fall within the applicable required delivery period specified above, will be considered nonresponsive and rejected. APPLICALE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES: The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are available in full text at: http://www.arnet.gov 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration; 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors- Commercial Items: 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions- Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- Commercial Items Including Subparagraphs: (1) 52.203-6 Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I; (15) 52.219-28 Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation; (16) 52.222-3 Convict Labor; (18) 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; (19) 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity; (21) 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities; (24) 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons; (31) 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases; (36) 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration; (38) 52.232-36 Payment by Third Party; 52.214-34 Submission of Offers in the English Language; 52.214-35 Submission of Offers in U.S. Currency; 52.227-14 Rights in Data- General 52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim; 52.242-17 Government Delay of Work 52.247-34 F.O.B. Destination EVALUATION CRITERIA: The Government contemplates an offer of award of a firm fixed priced contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter whose quote represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors, while relatively equal are listed in order of importance, shall be used to evaluate offers: 1. Past Performance- the relevance and quality of prior performance 2. Price 3. Statement certifying quoter is registered in the CCR and ORCA databases. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF QUOTATION: Quotes shall be submitted to the attention of Carrie Fairbanks, US Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, 648 Mission St., Ketchikan, AK 99901 or by Fax: (907) 228-6241. ***QUOTES SHALL BE RECEIVED BY MAY 9, 2008 BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS LOCAL ALASKA TIME.*** QUOTERS SHALL SUBMIT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: A. Submit quotation for Line Item 1: full analysis of 453 samples; Line Item 2: partial analysis for 21 samples with a grand total. Cost of preparing results in required format and delivery FOB destination should be factored into the line item prices and not as a separate line item. B. Submit past performance for relevant experience which describes at least three (3) relevant projects performed in the last three years and quality of performance. C. Submit statement certifying that the annual representations and certifications have been completed online via the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) website at http://orca.bpn.gov. Submission of a quote acknowledges that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically have been entered or updated within the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation as of the date of this quote. Reference FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items identified under Applicable Provisions and Clauses. D. Submit statement certifying that registration in the Central Contractor Database (CCR) in accordance with FAR 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration has been completed. Reference Section Applicable Provisions and Clauses. Submission of a quote acknowledges the requirement that the prospective awardee shall be registered in the CCR database website at http://www.ccr.gov prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. E. Submit statement indicating acceptance or non-acceptance of payment via the Government VISA credit card. Acceptance or Non-acceptance has no effect on evaluation of quotes. F. Alternate Delivery Date if applicable. The Government shall not be liable for any costs incurred in response to this request. The Government reserves the right to make a single award or no award as a result of this RFQ. It is the responsibility of the contractor to confirm US Forest Services receipt of quote. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Questions pertaining to this requirement shall be submitted in writing to Carrie Fairbanks via fax: 907-228-6241 or via email:
[email protected].