Laboratory Animal Bedding - Cellulose

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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation AG-6125-S-13-0019 is being issued as a Request for Quotes (RFQ). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-61. The 2012 NAICS code applicable to this acquisition is 322110. To be considered a small business under this NAICS, offerors must not exceed the 750 employee size standard. Offers from vendors not meeting this criteria will be rejected with no further consideration. The USDA, ARS, National Animal Disease Center (NADC) has a requirement for a contractor to provide Laboratory Animal Bedding. The details and specifications for the hay, along with instructions for markings, deliveries, and inspections, are attached with this posting. Any resulting award from this solicitation will be a fixed price , indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Responsible offerors must be able to provide between 100 and 1500 bags of each of the specified bedding types as needed within ten (10) working days of receiving a delivery notice. There is no historical ordering data to offer for this item. DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE: Offerors shall submit 2 copies of the descriptive literature (with pictures) describing their proposed product with enough detail to ascertain whether the product meets the criteria listed above. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN QUOTE: In order to be considered for award offerors shall provide 1) a Quote on company or formal letterhead detailing the item description, and unit price per item and total price; 2) a completed Schedule B spreadsheet (copy attached to this posting); 3) at least 3 to 5 references. (Government references preferred but will accept commercial references). References shall be provided for the service proposed and if possible include the email address of the person to be contacted; 4) Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provisions FAR 52.212-3, OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS, with this offer; a copy of this provision is attached in the Commercial Clauses file; and 5) a completed copy of AGAR 452.209 - 70, REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING AN UNPAID DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY OR A FELONY CONVICTION attached with this posting (pages 6 and 7 of the Commercial Clauses file). REJECTION OF QUOTATION: Failure to demonstrate compliance will be cause to reject the quote without further discussions. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered. NOTE: Guidance in this solicitation for actions within CCR and ORCA are now conducted through the Single Award Management system found at www.sam.gov. Vendors MUST have a record showing "Active" to be considered for award. 52.207-4 Economic Purchase Quantity-Supplies. (AUG 1987) (a) Offerors are invited to state an opinion on whether the quantity(ies) of supplies on which bids, proposals or quotes are requested in this solicitation is (are) economically advantageous to the Government. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ (b) Each offeror who believes that acquisitions in different quantities would be more advantageous is invited to recommend an economic purchase quantity. If different quantities are recommended, a total and a unit price must be quoted for applicable items. An economic purchase quantity is that quantity at which a significant price break occurs. If there are significant price breaks at different quantity points, this information is desired as well. OFFEROR RECOMENDATIONS Item Quantity Price Quotation Total ______ ________ _______________ _______ ______ ________ _______________ _______ ______ ________ _______________ _______ (c) The information requested in this provision is being solicited to avoid acquisitions in disadvantageous quantities and to assist the Government in developing a data base for future acquisitions of these items. However, the Government reserves the right to amend or cancel the solicitation and resolicit with respect to any individual item in the event quotations received and the Government's requirements indicate that different quantities should be acquired. (End of provision) 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items. (JAN 1999) (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1. Technical characteristics of items to meet specifications outlined in this posting's attachment. 2. Demonstrated ability to deliver within ten (10) business days from notice, as stated below. 3. Past performance as stated by references. 4. Best overall value to the Government. [Contracting Officer shall insert the significant evaluation factors, such as (i) technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirement; (ii) price; (iii) past performance (see FAR 15.304); (iv) small disadvantaged business participation; and include them in the relative order of importance of the evaluation factors, such as in descending order of importance.] Technical and past performance, when combined, are approximately equal to cost or price. [Contracting Officer state, in accordance with FAR 15.304, the relative importance of all other evaluation factors, when combined, when compared to price.] (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (End of provision) 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998) This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://www.acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. (End of provision) 52.214-34 Submission of Offers in the English Language. (APR 1991) Any resultant award to this solicitation will include the following clauses: AGAR 452.211-74 Period of Performance (FEB 1988) The period of performance of this contract will be from date of award (anticipated to be no later than November 30, 2012) through September 30, 2013. AGAR 452.216-73 Minimum and Maximum Contract Amounts (FEB 1988) During the period specified in FAR clause 52.216-18, ORDERING, the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of 100 Bags, but not in excess of the awarded maximum. 52.209-1 Qualification Requirements. (FEB 1995) (a) Definition. "Qualification requirement," as used in this clause, means a Government requirement for testing or other quality assurance demonstration that must be completed before award. (b) One or more qualification requirements apply to the supplies or services covered by this contract. For those supplies or services requiring qualification, whether the covered product or service is an end item under this contract or simply a component of an end item, the product, manufacturer, or source must have demonstrated that it meets the standards prescribed for qualification before award of this contract. The product, manufacturer, or source must be qualified at the time of award whether or not the name of the product, manufacturer, or source is actually included on a qualified products list, qualified manufacturers list, or qualified bidders list. Offerors should contact the agency activity designated below to obtain all requirements that they or their products or services, or their subcontractors or their products or services, must satisfy to become qualified and to arrange for an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to meet the standards specified for qualification. (Name) _ Stephen Sterle _______ (Address) _ USDA-ARS-NADC, 1920 Dayton Ave., Building 24, Ames, IA 50010 __ (c) If an offeror, manufacturer, source, product or service covered by a qualification requirement has already met the standards specified, the relevant information noted below should be provided. Offeror's Name _____________________________________ Manufacturer's Name______ __________________________ Source's Name _____________________________________ Item Name ________________________________________ Service Identification ________________________________ Test Number _______________________________________ (to the extent known) (d) Even though a product or service subject to a qualification requirement is not itself an end item under this contract, the product, manufacturer, or source must nevertheless be qualified at the time of award of this contract. This is necessary whether the Contractor or a subcontractor will ultimately provide the product or service in question. If, after award, the Contracting Officer discovers that an applicable qualification requirement was not in fact met at the time of award, the Contracting Officer may either terminate this contract for default or allow performance to continue if adequate consideration is offered and the action is determined to be otherwise in the Government's best interests. (e) If an offeror, manufacturer, source, product or service has met the qualification requirement but is not yet on a qualified products list, qualified manufacturers list, or qualified bidders list, the offeror must submit evidence of qualification prior to award of this contract. Unless determined to be in the Government's interest, award of this contract shall not be delayed to permit an offeror to submit evidence of qualification. (f) Any change in location or ownership of the plant where a previously qualified product or service was manufactured or performed requires reevaluation of the qualification. Similarly, any change in location or ownership of a previously qualified manufacturer or source requires reevaluation of the qualification. The reevaluation must be accomplished before the date of award. (End of clause) FAR 52.216 18 Ordering (OCT 1995) (a) Any supplies and services to be furnished under this contract shall be ordered by issuance of delivery orders or task orders by the individuals or activities identified by letter by the Contracting Officer. Such orders may be issued from date of award of this contract through the expiration date of the contract and any options. (b) All delivery orders or task orders are subject to the terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of conflict between a delivery order or task order and this contract, the contract shall control. (c) If mailed, a delivery order or task order is considered "issued" when the Government deposits the order in the mail. Orders may be issued orally, by facsimile, or by electronic commerce methods only if authorized in the Schedule. (End of clause) FAR 52.216 19 Order Limitations (OCT 1995) (a) Minimum order. When the Government requires supplies or services covered by this contract in an amount of less than 100 bags, the Government is not obligated to purchase, nor is the Contractor obligated to furnish, those supplies or services under the contract. (b) Maximum order. The Contractor is not obligated to honor (1) Any order for a single item in excess of 1500 Bags; (2) Any order for a combination of items in excess of 1500 Bags; or (3) A series of orders from the same ordering office, within 30 days, that together call for quantities exceeding the limitation in subparagraph (1) or (2) of this section. (c) If this is a requirements contract (i.e., includes the Requirements clause at subsection 52.216 21 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)), the Government is not required to order a part of any one requirement from the Contractor if that requirement exceeds the maximum order limitations in paragraph (b) of this section. (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the Contractor shall honor any order exceeding the maximum order limitations in paragraph (b), unless that order (or orders) is returned to the ordering office within 10 days after issuance, with written notice stating the Contractor's intent not to ship the item (or items) called for and the reasons. Upon receiving this notice, the Government may acquire the supplies or services from another source. (End of clause) FAR 52.216 22 Indefinite Quantity (OCT 1995) (a) This is an indefinite quantity contract for the supplies or services specified, and effective for the period stated, in the Schedule. The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are estimates only and are not purchased by this contract. (b) Delivery or performance shall be made only as authorized by orders issued in accordance with the Ordering clause. The Contractor shall furnish to the Government, when and if ordered, the supplies or services specified in the Schedule up to and including the quantity designated in the Schedule as the "maximum." The Government shall order at least the quantity of supplies or services designated in the Schedule as the "minimum." (c) Except for any limitations on quantities in the Order Limitations clause or in the Schedule, there is no limit on the number of orders that may be issued. The Government may issue orders requiring delivery to multiple destinations or performance at multiple locations. (d) Any order issued during the effective period of this contract and not completed within that period shall be completed by the Contractor within the time specified in the order. The contract shall govern the Contractor's and Government's rights and obligations with respect to that order to the same extent as if the order were completed during the contract's effective period; provided, that the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after one month after the completion of the contract and any options. (End of clause) 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999) The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 10 Months. (End of clause) 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://www.acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. (End of clause) 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration. (AUG 2012) 52.204-9 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel. (JAN 2011) 52.211-5 Material Requirements. (AUG 2000) 52.232-1 Payments. (APR 1984) 52.232-8 Discounts for Prompt Payment. (FEB 2002) 52.232-11 Extras. (APR 1984) 52.232-18 Availability of Funds. (APR 1984) 52.233-1 Disputes. (JULY 2002) Alternate I (DEC 1991) 52.233-3 Protest after Award. (AUG 1996) 52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim. (OCT 2004) 52.242-17 Government Delay of Work. (APR 1984) 52.243-1 Changes-Fixed-Price. (AUG 1987) 52.246-1 Contractor Inspection Requirements. (APR 1984) 52.247-34 F.o.b. Destination. (NOV 1991) 52.249-1 Termination for Convenience of the Government (Fixed-Price) (Short Form). (APR 1984) DELIVERY: FOB Destination. DELIVERY TO: USDA-ARS-NADC, 2300 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, IA 50010. Offers must state that deliveries will be completed within ten (10) working days from each notification. Any amendment and documents related to this procurement will be available electronically at the Internet site: http://www.fbo.gov. Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of those documents related to this procurement, if any. Furnish Quotes to Matthew Treska, Purchasing Agent, USDA-ARS-NADC, 1920 Dayton Ave., Building 24, Ames, IA 50010, no later than noon Central Time, November 26, 2012 . Quotes and other requested documents may be provided by email: [email protected] or facsimile to (515) 337-7243 if desired. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Agent at [email protected]. No agreements, contractual obligations, or official information relating to this solicitation will be offered by phone.