R -- Dog kenneling Houston

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends to issue a contract for canine kenneling services in the Houston, TX area. The contractor shall provide all labor, supplies, and equipment necessary to perform this service. Anticipated award will be for services for an initial base period (date of award through 9/30/2006) and four option years. The option years shall run from October 1 through September 30th of the next year. This notice is for kenneling services to support the CBP Canine Enforcement Unit located at George Bush International Airport. The requirement is for kenneling for approximately 16 – 20 canines on an as-needed basis. CBP will pay only for actual days used. The number of canines may vary according to the demands of their service. This requirement includes boarding, food and baths. Vendor will provide dog food in accordance with standards in the Statement of Work. Vendor will provide personnel and transportation for emergency medical trips on an as-required basis. Vendor will provide canines with dips and baths on an as-required basis. Proposals should be submitted in the form of a daily kenneling rate per dog. Proposals should also include price for dog food and baths. Award will be made to the responsible/responsive contractor who provides the best value to the Government. Vendor will be evaluated on the basis of: technically acceptable (conformance with statement of work), cost, distance, and references/past performance. Technically acceptable includes passing inspection conducted by local technically qualified CBP Canine Enforcement Officer and performance evaluation information. Technical inspections shall be conducted against the Evaluation Criteria (Statement of Work). Contractors are required to provide (before the closing date and time) past performance information that demonstrates the contractor’s ability to perform canine kenneling services to the Government. Past performance information may include the following: Contract number or purchase order number for a contract that has been active within the last two years; dollar amount of the award; performance period; place of performance; name of Government entity for whom the work was done or is being done; and the names and telephone numbers of the contracting officer and the technical point of contact (canine officer or COTR). Each proposal will be evaluated independently. No mergers of solicitations will be accepted. The Service Contract Act of 1965 as amended applies to this requirement. Proposals shall incorporate the minimum wage for Animal Caretaker (Occupation code 99020) for Houston area counties of $8.21 per hour, per Department of Labor Wage Determination Number 94-2515 Rev. 32. Contact the contract specialist listed below for a copy of the Statement of Work and Solicitation. The solicitation will be issued on or around February 6, 2006. Questions will be received by e-mail or fax only. This is a 100% Small Business Set-Aside. See Numbered Note 1.