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. The solicitation number is AG-05K3-S-17-0061 and is issued as an invitation for bids (IFB), unless otherwise indicated herein. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-95. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334310 with a small business size standard of 750.00 employees. This requirement is a [ Small Business ] set-aside and only qualified offerors may submit bids. The solicitation pricing on www.FedBid.com will start on the date this solicitation is posted and will end on 2017-09-15 15:00:00.0 Eastern Time or as otherwise displayed at www.FedBid.com. FOB Destination shall be Corvallis, OR 97331 The USDA Forest Service Region 6 - Forest Service requires the following items, Brand Name or Equal, to the following: LI 001: Song Meter SM4 Acoustic Recorder with stereo microphones BRAND NAME OR EQUAL - Any "equal" documentation must conform to the AGAR provision of this solicitation and CLEARLY show the submitted equal is comparable AND compatible with the SM4 operations and software. Region 6 Science Labs currently own 210 SM4 units as of December 2016. Interaction and interoperable units are REQUIRED. No new software installation or training will be considered., 400, EA; Solicitation and Buy Attachments ***Question Submission: Interested offerors must submit any questions concerning the solicitation at the earliest time possible to enable the Buyer to respond. Questions must be submitted by using the 'Submit a Question' feature at www.fedbid.com. Questions not received within a reasonable time prior to close of the solicitation may not be considered.*** For this solicitation, USDA Forest Service Region 6 - Forest Service intends to conduct an online competitive reverse auction to be facilitated by the third-party reverse auction provider, FedBid, Inc. FedBid has developed an online, anonymous, browser based application to conduct the reverse auction. An Offeror may submit a series of pricing bids, which descend in price during the specified period of time for the aforementioned reverse auction. USDA Forest Service Region 6 - Forest Service is taking this action in an effort to improve both vendor access and awareness of requests and the agency's ability to gather multiple, competed, real-time bids. All responsible Offerors that respond to this solicitation MUST submit the pricing portion of their bid using the online exchange located at www.FedBid.com. There is no cost to register, review procurement data or make a bid on www.FedBid.com. Offerors that are not currently registered to use www.FedBid.com should proceed to www.FedBid.com to complete their free registration. Offerors that require special considerations or assistance may contact the FedBid Helpdesk at 877-9FEDBID (877-933-3243) or via email at
[email protected]. Offerors may not artificially manipulate the price of a transaction on www.FedBid.com by any means. It is unacceptable to place bad faith bids, to use decoys in the www.FedBid.com process or to collude with the intent or effect of hampering the competitive www.FedBid.com process. Should offerors require additional clarification, notify the point of contact or FedBid at 877-9FEDBID (877-933-3243) or
[email protected] of FedBid: Buyers and Sellers agree to conduct this transaction through FedBid in compliance with the FedBid Terms of Use. Failure to comply with the below terms and conditions may result in offer being determined as non-responsive. For the purposes of this buy the term “After Receipt of Order (ARO)� has the same meaning and function as the term “Notice to Proceed (NTP)� in the attached package. New Equipment ONLY; NO remanufactured or "gray market" items. All items must be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Bid MUST be good for 30 calendar days after close of Buy. Shipping must be free on board (FOB) destination CONUS (Continental U.S.), which means that the seller must deliver the goods on its conveyance at the destination specified by the buyer, and the seller is responsible for the cost of shipping and risk of loss prior to actual delivery at the specified destination. Offeror must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database before an award can be made to them. If the offeror is not registered in the CCR, it may do so through the CCR website at http://www.ccr.gov. The selected Offeror must comply with the following commercial item terms and conditions, which are incorporated herein by reference: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items - the selected offeror must submit a completed copy of the listed representations and certifications; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, paragraph (a) and the following clauses in paragraph (b): 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.225-13, 52.232-34. The full text of the referenced FAR clauses may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/. (As used in this provision, the term "brand name" includes identification of products by make and model.) (a) If items called for by this solicitation have been identified by a "brand name or equal" description, such identification is intended to be descriptive, but not restrictive, and is to indicate the quality and characteristics of products that will be satisfactory. Offers of "equal" products (including products of the brand name manufacturer other than the one described by brand name) will be considered for award if such products are clearly identified in the offer (see clause 452.211-71) and are determined by the Contracting Officer to meet fully the salient characteristics requirements listed in the solicitation. (b) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that it is offering an "equal" product, the offeror shall be considered as offering the brand name product(s) referenced in the solicitation. (c)(1) If the offeror proposes to furnish an "equal" product or products, the brand name(s), if any, and any other required information about the product(s) to be furnished shall be inserted in the space provided in the solicitation. The evaluation of offers and the determination as to the equality of the product(s) offered shall be the responsibility of the Government and will be based on information furnished by the offeror or identified in its offer as well as other information reasonably available to the contracting activity. Caution to offerors: The contracting activity is not responsible for locating or securing any information which is not identified in the offer and is not reasonably available to the contracting activity. Accordingly, to assure that sufficient information is available, the offeror must furnish as a part of its offer all descriptive material (such as cuts, illustrations, drawings, or other infor-mation) necessary for the contracting activity to (i) determine whether theproduct offered meets the salient characteristics requirement of the solicitation, and (ii) establish exactly what the offeror proposes to furnish and what the Government would be binding itself to purchase by making an award. The information furnished may include specific reference to information previously furnished or to information otherwise available to the contracting activity. (2) If an offeror proposes to modify a product so as to make it conform to the requirements of the solicitation, the offer shall include (i) a clear description of such proposed modifications and (ii) clearly marked descriptive material to show the proposed modifications. As prescribed in 411.171, insert the following or substantially the same clause in solicitations seeking offers on a "brand name or equal" basis to allow offerors the opportunity to clearly identify the "equal" item being offered, and to illustrate how that item meets the salient characteristics requirements of the Government. EQUAL PRODUCTS OFFERED (NOV 1996) (a) Offerors proposing to furnish an "equal" product, in accordance with the "Brand Name or Equal" provision of this solicitation, shall provide the following information for each offered "equal" product: Contract Line Item Number (if any): _____________________________ Brand Name or Equal Product identified by the Government in this solicitation:________________________________________________ Offered Product Name:_______________________________________ Catalog Description or part number:___________________________________________________ Manufacturer's Name:________________________________________ Manufacturer's Address:___________________________________________________________________ (b) Offerors are responsible for submitting all additional information on the above product necessary for the Contracting Officer to determine whether the product offered meets the "brand name or equal" product's salient characteristics listed in the solicitation. Funds are not presently available for this effort. No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the solicitation’s closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any costs incurred.