The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services, Plant Protection and Quarantine Facility in Edinburg, TX seeks a five year Indefinite Quantity/Indefinite Delivery contract to purchase Ethanol lures, ultra high release (UHR), in accordance with specifications. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.209-4; First Article Approval-Government testing will be required at no additional cost to the government. The estimated quantities needed each year could be anywhere from 300 to 10,000 lures. Baits used for the detection of bark beetle attacks enable better monitoring of infestations. Semiochemicals are sensitive detectors of specific beetles and non-indigenous forest insect pests which allow for monitoring insect populations and aid a variety of control strategies. These forest pests are some of the most serious exotic plant pests threatening United States (U.S.) Agriculture. The cost to live with these pest infestations if not detected, monitored and managed can be damaging to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the forest industry. The cost of eradication could be in the millions of dollars. The following conditions must be met for the requested products: Each product must be identified, both on the lure packet and the shipping containers with: • Manufacture name • Batch or Lot number • Optimal storage conditions (Manufacturers' recommended: optimal storage temperature, and recommended minimum and maximum storage temperature range) • Expected duration of effectiveness when being utilized • Contract number • Manufacturing date. • Semiochemical component - Ethanol Packaging: Packaging is an important part of the delivery of these fragile and products the following must be followed: 1. The product must be evenly packaged. 2. Same number of units per over-pack and per box And must not exceed 10 units per over-pack. 3. The product must be packed in an impermeable over pack to prevent leakage. 4. Each shipment will contain a current Safety Data Sheet and any worker safety documentation. 5. Each shipment will include a packing slip identifying the following: • Manufacturer • Batch/Lot Number • Date of Manufacture • Purchase order Number • Quantity Shipped Shipping Material shall be packed for shipment in such a manner that shall insure acceptance by common carriers and safe delivery at destination. Containers and closures shall comply with the Interstate Commerce Commission regulations, Uniform Freight Classification rules, or regulations of other carriers as applicable to the mode of transportation. Specifications APHIS understands Ethanol to be an attractants for the many insects. APHIS will consider a manufactures recommendation so long as proper support is provided showing; the effectiveness against the pest(s) listed and the rate of release is demonstrated to be effective for a period of at least 6 weeks for the pest listed for that lure. Ethanol should be effective against Monochamus alternatus, Hylobius abietis, Tetropium castaneum, Tetropium fuscum, Tomicus destruens when used in conjunction with other semiochemicals like Alpha Pinene. The government has used passive release device which is loaded with over 100 grams of pure Ethanol and is contained in a polysleve. APHIS realizes this release from device is often controlled by temperature and other environmental factors. The load rate of the dispenser should be adequate to last 6 weeks at a variety of environmental factors for the required 6 week period. The dispenser shall also be: • Resistant to damage and moisture when handled during normal field trapping operations. • the full amount of the active components upon delivery as supported by company specifications. • of a size and use an attachment method that fits a Lindgren (mulit-funnel trap) trap in a way that does not impede the installation or replacement of a new dispenser. • Supported with scientific (preferably peer reviewed) literature Given the various construction of lure dispensers, companies shall also summit the following during the solicitation process: • Detailed specification of the lures submitted including: percent composition of all chemicals, listing of both active and non-active ingredients. APHIS may request documents after the samples are submitted for testing. • Information relating to effectiveness of the given semiochemical supporting the submitted lures' specifications • Written specifications and testing procedures utilized to ensure products meet given specifications • Data supporting the expected field life of the dispenser. All submitted information will be treated as confidential business information when requested. Bid Sample Testing of Dispensers Evaluation Criteria APHIS may perform an evaluation on the lures prior to award to ensure that the products will meet program needs. Vendors may be excluded based on previous successful purchases. Lures and the packaging will be evaluated by individual users of the lures. Users will have knowledge of the lure and have used them as part of an APHIS program. The following evaluation criteria will be evaluated: • Odor - emitted from unopened package • Ease of Package opening • Readability of Package marking • Ease of attachment and removal to the lindgren funnel (mulit-funnel trap) trap (Lindgren Funnel) First Article Approval-Government Testing required in accordance with Federal Acquisition Clause 52.209-4. To complete this evaluation APHIS must receive 20 individually packaged lures to be evaluated prior to the official solicitation closing. These lures will be provided at no cost to the government and must be received prior to the closing of the announcement at: USDA APHIS PPQ Ethanol Lure Testing Edinburg, TX Quality Assurance Surveillance Program (QASP): The USDA APHIS may perform QASP testing addressing the following areas: * The dispenser shall be resistant to damage and moisture when handled during normal field trapping operations. • The dispenser contains the full amount of the active components upon delivery. • The dispensers fit the inside of the trap in a way that does not impede the installation or replacement of a new dispenser. • Meets the needs of programs • Supported with published scientific literature In order to assure the most effective use of tax payer dollars APHIS will develop a QASP program in coordination with the manufacture in an attempt to address lure leakage and product reliability b. Lure shelf life all dispensers shall exhibit satisfactory shelf life by remaining in compliance with the specifications for at least six months when stored at manufacture specifications Active component purity and quality If a company is found to have a lure leakage rate in excess of 2% of the provided lures they will provide working replacements for these products at no cost to the government. Similarly, if 5% of the product is found to have a depleted content after 6 months at optimal storage the company will offset the required supply at no cost. If at any point of the expected shelf life, the active component if found to have purity or quality issues the company will provide replacement lures meeting the stated specifications. At the request of the company APHIS may provide representative samples of the failed products. Interested vendors are encouraged to complete and return Attachment 1 to the contracting office. Telephonic inquiries will not be honored. Please email all questions regarding subject item(s) prior to Sources Sought closing date to
[email protected]. Small Business concerns are encouraged to participate. This is not a request for competitive proposals, but instead a market research method to determine interested sources. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No requests for capability briefings will be honored as a result of this notice. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. Please provide Number, Duns Number, and point of contact information. The Government will not award a contract based on the information received, nor reimburse participants for information or samples they provide. Information or materials provided is strictly voluntary. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 325320- Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing. The Small Business Size Category is 1,000 Employees. Please Email or Fax Attachment 1 to Carol Dingess at
[email protected]. fx# 970-472-1897 Email is the preferred method of communication. Please be sure to include notice # APHIS-PPQ-SS-16-0152 on subject line. Closing date for submissions of Statement's of Capability is July 22, 2016 at 4:00pm ( MT). Anyone wishing to do business with the USDA must be listed in the government's System for Award Management Registrar now known as SAM. You may register on line with http://sam.gov A prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from a solicitation. Vendors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through http://sam.gov or by calling Central Contractors Registration @ 1-866-606-8220 Anyone doing business with the USDA must also obtain a Dunn and Bradstreet number. If your company does not have a DUNS number, you may contact Dun and Bradstreet directly to obtain one by calling 1- 866-705-5711or via the following website: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform The Government intends to provide all information regarding this notice via this web site . The Federal Government is not responsible for notifications to offerors regarding notices, solicitations or amendments. It is the Vendor's responsibility to check this web site www.fbo.gov periodically for updates. Telephone and email requests will not be accepted