This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (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 301814Q002 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ), and incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2001-15. In accordance with FAR Subpart 19.2, this solicitation is a total set aside for "small businesses." It has been determined that the appropriate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 311119, under which the small business size standard is currently set at 500 or fewer employees. It is anticipated that this solicitation shall culminate in the award of an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a period of performance of three federal fiscal years (October 1 through September 30, annually). Written delivery orders will be funded and issued against the resulting contract by sufficiently warranted Contracting Officers (COs) at the Region 3 FWS Office or any of the National Fish Hatcheries (NFH) within Region 3. Minimum/maximum order: A guaranteed minimum of 586,650 pounds of fish food, and no more than a total of 2,500,000 pounds of fish food over the entire three-year (3-yr) period of contract performance. The first year's estimated quantities by line item are: 001 - 96,600 lbs, 002 - 99,100 lbs, 003 - 130,750 lbs, 004 - 113,100 lbs, 005 - 70,100 lbs, 006 - 3,500 lbs, 007 - 7,500 lbs, 008 - 11,500 lbs, 009 - 25,500 lbs, and 010 - 29,000 lbs. Fish food types, by Line Item: 001, Granules, No. 3 Size (to pass through 2.00 mm [10 US screen size] and to pass over 1.19 mm [16 US screen size]; 002, Granules, No. 4 Size (to pass through 3.36 mm [6 US screen size] and to pass over 2.00 mm [10 US screen size]; 003, Pellets, 3/32" Size; 004 Pellets, 1/8" Size; 005, Pellets, 3/16" Size; 006, Pellets, 1/8" Size (B); 007 Pellets, 3/16" Size (B); 008, Pellets, 1/4" Size (B); 009, Pellets, 3/8" Size (B); and 010, Pellets, 1/2" Size (B). SPECIFICATIONS: All items with a (B) denote "broodstock" (whereas "grower" is undesignated) diet and shall contain Roxantin Red 10 or equivalent added at the rate of 1/2 pound per ton plus double vitamin pack. Fish food shall be composed of the following and shall carry the following guaranteed analysis: fish meal protein, not less than (NLT) 30%; crude protein, NLT 45%; crude fat, NLT 11%; moisture, not more than (NMT) 10% at sack-off or delivery; and NMT 12% ash. Additional fish food factors: NLT 30% fish meal: stabilized, maximum moisture 10%, maximum salt 5%, stored at the manufacturer's plant no longer than 6 months as indicated by the bill of lading. Different meals may not be combined for use in the feed (Pepsin digestibility not less than 92.5%.): 1) herring meal (minimum protein 65%), 2) anchovy fish carcass meal (minimum protein 65%), and 3) menhaden fish carcass meal (minimum protein 60%). Fish meal may be increased (not decreased) depending upon protein content but must provide not less than 30% fish protein; NLT 17.5% wheat standard middlings: minimum protein 15%, maximum fiber 9.5%. Wheat middlings to be adjusted to compensate for variations in fish meal and fish oil; NLT 5% wheat feed flour: minimum protein 14%, maximum fiber 1.5%; NLT 25% soybean meal: solvent extracted and dehulled, minimum protein 47.5% or alternatively (but NMT 15% of the total diet) cottonseed meal: prime quality, minimum protein 48%, solvent extracted and dehulled, NMT 0.04% free gossypol, may be used to partially replace soybean meal; NLT 10% ring dried blood meal: minimum protein 80%; NLT 2 lb/ton trace mineral premix No. 3, consisting of: zinc sulfate (ZnSO4 - 84 g/lb of mineral mix) - guaranteed analysis of element in mineral mix (GAEMM) of 34 g/lb, manganese sulfate (MnSO4 - 25 g/lb of mineral mix) - GAEMM of 9.1 g/lb, cupric sulfate (CuSO4 - 1.75 g/lb of mineral mix) - GAEMM of 0.7 g/lb, and either potassium iodate (KIO3 - 7.7 g/lb of mineral mix) or ethylenediamine dihydroiodide - EDDI (C2H8N22HI - 6.8 g/lb of mineral mix) - GAEMM of 4.5 g/lb. An inert carrier can be used to make the mixture to the pound; NLT 8 lb/ton vitamin premix No. 30 (add a double vitamin pack to broodstock pellet diets), consisting of the following guaranteed potency per pound of premix: 12.0 grams (g) D calcium pantothenate, 3.5 g pyidoxine (pyridoxine HCT), 6.0 g riboflavin, 25.0 g niacinamide, 1.0 g folic acid, 4.0 g thiamine (thiamine monoitrate), 40.0 milligrams (mg) biotin, 2.5 mg vitamin B12, 1.25 g menadione sodium bisulfite complex, 40,000 i.u. vitamin E (d or dl alpha tocopherol acetate), 50,000 i.u. vitamin D3, stabilized, and 750,000 USP vitamin A (vitamin A palmitate or acetate), stabilized. The certified vitamin premix is to be supplied by a recognized manufacturer and must show the date of preparation. The vitamin premix to be used is not to be held in storage longer than 4 months after date of preparation. The vitamin premix is to be made with a wheat or soybean by-product base. Rice hulls or oat feed are not acceptable; NLT 3.5 lb/ton choline chloride, 50%; NLT 1.5 lb/ton ascorbic acid; NLT 10% fish oil: stabilized with 0.04 BHA-BHT (1:1) or 0.01 ethoxyquin and less than 3% free fatty acids (Up to 4% soybean oil, once refined [NSPA standard] with 0.04 BHA-BHT (1:1) or 0.01% ethoxyquin may be substituted for an equal amount of fish oil in the feed mix. Not less than 2% of the total fat shall be sprayed on the pellets as a top dressing, the rest to be included in the feed mix. Only fish oil be use used to top dress feeds.) Quantity of added oil may be adjusted upward only so that finished feed shall contain not less than 11% crude fat; NLT 2% lignin sulphonate pellet binder (e.g. Ameribond, Orzan, or equiv.). Choline chloride, ascorbic acid, and the vitamin premix No. 30 are to be stored separately and never mixed on with the other before being added to the feed mixture. Additional specifications and conditions include 1) freshness - the fish food shall have been produced within 30 days of shipment to the destination; 2) The Contractor's mill, equipment and manufacturing procedures must comply with the FDA's "Good Manufacturing Practices" prepared by Robert A Wilcox, Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhatten, Kansas; 3) Premix No. 30 is to be added at the rate of 8 pounds per ton to the grower diet; 4) The weighing systems must be of suitable size and accuracy for their purposes. Proper weighing techniques must be used in weighing ingredients into the mix. The feed mixer may be of any conventional type with proper clean-out features. The mixing time shall be controlled for proper mixing. Production run records must be maintained and provide the following information: a) diet formulation, b) batch size, c) identification and weight of each ingredient used, and d) mix date and batch number; 5) Ingredients are to be carefully and thoroughly pulverized to pass 100% through a U.S. screen size 20 and after screening, the ingredients shall be mixed; 6) Pelleting: a) The feed mixture is to be processed into pellets, using dry steam to produce the proper textured pellets. The pellets must be firm enough to hold together in packaging, transporting, storage and when placed in water; and b) Dust content of pellets is not to exceed 3% at the manufacturer's plant (dust defined as particles passing through a screen with openings of 3.36 millimeters). Standard Pellet Sizes are: 1/8" diameter X 1/8" long minimum, 1/8" by 1/4" maximum; 3/16" diameter X 3/16" long minimum, 3/16" by 3/8" maximum; 1/4" diameter X 1/4" long minimum, 1/4" by ½" maximum; 3/8" diameter X 3/8" long minimum, 3/8" by 3/4" maximum; and ½" diameter X ½" long minimum, ½" by 1" maximum; 7) Granules: a) Granules are to be made by cracking pellets, then screening out the granules to the sizes indicated. No. 3 and No. 4 granules are to be cracked from 3/16" diameter pellets; b) Prior to bagging, the feed must be rescreened through a coarse screen to remove lumps; and c) The granules are to contain 85% correct sized granules prior to top dressing with oil; 8) Delivery: a) Only feed from current production is to be delivered to the hatcheries. Feed stored from previous production will not be accepted; b) Pelleted feeds must not contain in excess of 4% dust upon delivery to a hatchery and total undersized pellets must not exceed 5% at delivery; and c) No feed shall contain in excess of 10% moisture upon delivery; 9) The ingredients and finished feeds shall be wholesome and clean with materials free from noxious chemicals and foreign materials. Fish oil that is used must not contain more than .1 ppm PCBs; 10) Inspection: a) The Contracting Officer, Quality Control Inspector and Hatchery Managers have the authority to inspect the Contractor's: i) plant facilities, ii) food manufacturing equipment, iii) ingredient and finished feed storage facilities, iv) inventories of ingredients, v) suppliers' invoices and appropriate labels, vi) acquisition documents, vii) laboratory test results for ingredients and fish food; b) Upon request, the Contractor shall furnish samples to the Quality Control Inspector of all the ingredients used in the feed including test results and ingredient labels; c) The Contractor will be immediately notified of any contract violations followed by written confirmation of such violation; 11) Within 7 calendar days after the quarterly shipment or shipment of a special order, the Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer with a copy of the laboratory analysis of the fish oil, fish meal, wheat flour and soy flour utilized. PACKING AND PACKAGING: Bagging and Loading: 1) The pellets and granules are not to be bagged for delivery until cooled to 10 degrees F above ambient air temperature and dried to a moisture content of 10% or less. The pellets and granules shall be bagged in new, contaminant free, multi-wall 50-pound capacity plain paper bags. After being filled, the bags are to be sewn closed. The net weight of the feed in each bag is to be 50 pounds. Each bag is to be labeled with tags which are color coded as to pellet or granule size as follows: No. 3 granules - dark blue/navy, No. 4 granules - light blue, 1/8" pellet - yellow, 3/32" pellet - manilla, 3/16" pellet - white, 1/4" pellet - green, 3/8" pellet - green, and 1/2" pellet - green; 2) The tags are to be printed to show pellet size, diet identification (grower or broodstock diet) and date manufactured in an uncoded format 3) All fish feed is to be shipped on 40" X 48" nonreturnable pallets, shrink wrapped with a maximum weight of 2,000 lbs per pallet 4) Each shipment shall include a packing slip showing the contract number, delivery order number, item number and the quantity shipped. DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: Quarterly delivery of the fish feed is required not later than the 15th day of the first month of each quarter. The initial orders (placed within 10 days of the date of award) shall be delivered within 15 calendar days after receipt of a delivery order (a large partial order of all items on the delivery order is acceptable, balance within 30 calendar days). All other special orders require delivery within 30 calendar days after receipt of a delivery order. All deliveries shall be made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except National Holidays. Please notify the Hatchery Manager 72 hours prior to the delivery. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: 1) Inspection and Acceptance will be performed at each hatchery (Pendill's Creek NFH, 21990 West Trout Lane, Brimley, MI 49715, 906-437-5231; Neosho NFH, East Park Street, Neosho, MO 64850, 417-451-0554; Jordan River NFH, 6623 Turner Road, Elmira, MI 49730, 231-584-2481; and Iron River NFH, 10325 Fairview Road, Iron River, WI 54847, 715-372-8510); 2) The Hatchery Manager is the authorized representative of the Contracting Officer for inspection and acceptance 3) Appropriate samples of the fish food may be tested and inspected for compliance with the contract specifications by: Fish Technology Center, 4050 Bridger Canyon Road, Bozeman, Montana 59715, 406-587-9265, or other qualified laboratory approved by the contracting officer; 4) In the event that the contractor provides fish food that fails to meet the contract specifications, acceptance of further orders will not be made until tested and approved by the Fish Technology Center or other qualified laboratory as approved by the Contracting Officer. These tests must be accomplished within 30 calendar days; 5) Fish food that is rejected for failure to meet the applicable specifications shall be returned to the contractor at no cost to Government and replaced with new fish feed at no additional cost. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: At the direction of the Contracting Officer, the contractor will take random samples of the production fish food and ship it to a qualified independent laboratory for testing. The written laboratory results will be furnished to the Contracting Officer within 14 calendar days. SUBMISSON of QUOTES: Quotes should contain prices on a per pound basis, with separate pricing for each line item for F.O.B. destination delivery to each hatchery. The following FAR provisions are hereby incorporated into this RFQ by reference (full text may be accessed electronically at www.arnet.gov/far): 52.212-1, "Instructions to Offerors - Commercial". Each offeror shall include a completed copy of the provision of 52.212-3, "Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items" with its price quote. The following FAR clauses are hereby incorporated into this RFQ by reference: 52.212-4, "Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items" and 52.212-5 (June 2003), "Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items" [checked applicable in paragraph (b): 1, 5i, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24 and 30]. The following FAR clauses are also applicable: 52.216-18 "Ordering" (from date of award through September 30, 2006); 52.216-19 "Order Limitations" (a) minimum order of fifteen thousand (15,000) lbs (except for special orders); and 52.216-22 "Indefinite Quantity", (d) the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after November 30, 2006. Award will be made to the responsible firm whose quote is most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Other factors for this solicitation include past performance of the quoter. Past performance information may be based on the Government's knowledge of and previous experience with the quoter, or other reasonable basis. Quoters shall submit, in addition to the quote, a list of the last five (5) customers purchasing these items (including dates of sale, quantity, phone numbers and contact names); this information will be used by the Government as a means to ascertain past performance. Mail, fax or e-mail quotation packets to the attention of Patrick Peine, Contracting Officer, to U.S. F.W.S., Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Room 652), 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056; Fax number 612-713-5151; E-mail:
[email protected]. Quotations must be received no later than close of business (4:30 p.m. C.D.T.) on Friday, September 22, 2003. See Numbered Note 1.