Contract for services to grow and maintain 300 Fraxinus uhdei (Tropical Ash) trees that will support a significant portion of the leaves needed to successfully operate the emerald ash borer (EAB) biocontrol rearing facility. The contractor must also repot

Solicitation 12639520Q0008 1. 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; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. 2. This reference number for this effort is 12639520Q0008. This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ) for a firm fixed price contract. 3. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular: FAR FAC 2019-04 September 6, 2019. 4. This solicitation is issued as a total small business set-aside. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) for this procurement is 111421 with a small business size standard of $0.75 million. 5. Contract Line Items. Pricing Schedule The contractor shall furnish all labor, supplies, materials, equipment, and supervision to perform the services stated herein and within the specified timeframe. Item Description Qty Unit Unit Price Total Base 0001 Maintenance of Tropical Ash Trees 12 MO ______ _________ (Period: Date of Award - 10/31/2020) Option 1 0002 Maintenance of Tropical Ash Trees 12 MO ______ _________ (Period: 11/01/2020 - 10/31/2021) Option 2 0003 Maintenance of Tropical Ash Trees 12 MO ______ _________ (Period: 11/01/2021 - 10/31/2022) Option 3 0004 Maintenance of Tropical Ash Trees 12 MO ______ _________ (Period: 11/01/2022 - 10/31/2023) Option Item 4 0005 Repotting Ash trees using 300 EA ______ _________ existing pots and trimming roots (Period: Within 180 days after award) TOTAL PRICE (Items 0001 - 0005) ___________ 6. Description of requirements for the items to be acquired: Work includes, but is not limited to, providing indoor and outdoor spaces to maintain and monitor approximately 300 Fraxinus uhdei (Tropical Ash) trees and tree care for the same. Services are anticipated to begin immediately after award. Requirements are further as follows; I. Objective To contract for services to grow and maintain 300 Fraxinus uhdei (Tropical Ash) trees that will support a significant portion of the leaves needed to successfully operate the emerald ash borer (EAB) biocontrol rearing facility. The contractor must also repot the 300 trees utilizing existing pots and trim roots to allow for repotting. The contractor's space for growing and maintaining the trees must be located within approximately 20 miles from the USDA APHIS PPQ office, located at 5936 Ford Court, Suite 200, Brighton, MI 48116. II. Background EAB is a very small but very destructive beetle. Metallic green in color, its slender body measures 1/2 inch in length and 1/8 inch wide. The average adult beetle can easily fit on a penny. Native to China and eastern Asia, the EAB probably landed in North America hidden in wood packing materials commonly used to ship consumer goods, auto parts, and the like. Although no one can say for sure when EAB arrived in southeastern Michigan, the scientific community believes the beetle went undetected for over 10 years, based on its widespread distribution and destruction. EAB was officially identified in the summer of 2002. This beetle has been found in 5 states and the District of Columbia (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) and is responsible for the death or decline of tens of millions of ash trees and billions more are at risk. In addition, the Canadian government has also been engaged in an EAB program of its own. In an effort to control the spread of damage caused by EAB, USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ turned to the release of biocontrol agents. Four parasitic wasps are currently being released as biocontrol agents that target different life stages of EAB. These parasitioids are reared from EAB larvae at the mass rearing facility in Brighton, MI. Several EAB colonies are maintained in order to obtain sufficient numbers of EAB to support parasitoid rearing operations. The maintenance of these colonies requires several components, but perhaps none more important than high quality leaf material. III. Scope of Work A. Maintain highly productive F. uhdei trees with the intention of using leaves to rear Emerald Ash Borer Beetles (EAB) to support biocontrol efforts of the same. • Provide appropriate night/day heated (74‐82⁰F) indoor space (~3000 sq ft) for continual growth of 300 mature F. uhdei trees during winter months or when threatened with frost. • Supply space during summer months that will provide adequate temperatures to avoid heat damage (outdoor area is sufficient). • Monitor and report the health of plants, which will include insect damage and signs of stress that would occur from inappropriate watering, fertilizing, and lighting regimes. • Modify work plans with cooperation from EAB rearing facility manager to address plant health issues. • Maintain adequate staffing throughout the year to ensure delivery of labor to water and fertilize as needed and to monitor plant health. Plants will need to be root pruned and repotted with new soil and fertilizer approximately every 24 months. Soil and fertilizer mixtures shall be directed by the rearing facility manager. • Supply the resources necessary to maintain adequate temperature, watering, and fertilizing schedules to facilitate leaf production and hardening. • When biocontrol applications/pest trapping are deemed necessary, a schedule of biocontrol releases/trapping and the appropriate biocontrol agents/traps will be supplied to the contractor by the Government. The contractor shall release the biocontrol agents and hang traps according to the supplied schedule and product directions. Certain situations may warrant the use of pesticides to be supplied by the contractor, but this decision will ultimately be made by the EAB biocontrol facility manager and would require a modification to the contract in accordance with clause 52.212‐4. Pesticides cannot be used. • Maintenance log will be maintained and made available for review upon request. Maintenance log will include schedules for watering, fertilizing, and lighting as well as any situational modifications made. B. Logistics • Plants will be on the contractor's facility within 10 days following contract award. Delivery will be made by the government and coordinated with the Contractor. The EAB rearing facility manager, team leaders, and maintenance engineer will have unrestricted access to area housing PPQ trees for emergency purposes. • Personnel (facility manager, team leaders, and lab technicians) from the EAB rearing facility will travel to the selected greenhouse to select and harvest leaves used in the production facility during regular business hours, unless otherwise discussed. C. Deliverables • High quality, nutritious leaf material that supports beetle rearing operations. • Emergency Contacts (names and phone numbers to be added at time of award) D. Period of Performance • The contractor shall be required to commence work under this contract within 10 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice of award. Services are anticipated to begin November 1, 2019. This contract includes a 12‐month base period and three 12‐month option periods. The Government has the option to extend the term of this contract by exercising option periods in accordance with clause 52.217‐9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. Base Period: Award Date through October 31, 2020. Option 1: November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021. Option 2: November 1, 2021 through October 31, 2022. Option 3: November 1, 2022 through October 31, 2023. 7. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition. 52.212-1 Addendum: (b) Submission of quotations. Submit quotations by email to [email protected]. QUOTATIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) Cover page referencing the solicitation number, company name, address, point of contact information (name, title, phone, email), and DUNS number. (2) A quoted price for each line item in the above Pricing Schedule. (3) Technical Capability Information: A detailed description how the contractor plans to fulfill the technical requirements. Include a description of qualification of personnel, and photograph of proposed indoor and outdoor spaces. (4) Past performance: Provide at least two (2) past performance references for work performed by the Quoter within the last three years. Include title/description of project, reference name, title, valid phone and email. (5) Acknowledgement of solicitation amendments (if applicable). (c) Period of validity of quotations. Funds are presently available for this acquisition for the base year service and repotting requirement. No contract award will be made for option years until appropriated funds are made available. The quoter agrees to hold the prices in its quotation firm through November 1, 2019 unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation. 8. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be the best value to the government. Quotations will be evaluated in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Award will be made based on best value where price, technical acceptability, and past performance are evaluation factors: (a) "Technical Capability", the quoter must demonstrate that the vendor's proposed personnel and facility can perform the requirements of the project. (b) "Past Performance" The Government may contact any or all of the past performance references provided in response to this solicitation, and may also use other information obtained from any other sources when evaluating past performance. 9. The provision 52.204-7, 52.204-16, 52.204-23 and 52.212-3, apply to this requirement and must be completed as applicable. Quoters must have a current registration in System for Awards Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. 10. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. 52.212-4 Addendum: (g) Invoices, is revised to include the following statement: All invoices shall be submitted through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) at www.ipp.gov. IPP is a secure, web‐based service that manages government invoicing. 11. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: (1) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)). (2) 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (Jul 2018) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91). (3) 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (AUG 2019) (Section 89(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115-232). (4) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015) (5) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553). (6) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)). (b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: The following clauses are checked as applicable: _X_ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2018) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). _X_ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). _X_ (14) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644). _X_ (18) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)). _X_ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). _X_ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755). _X_ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Jan 2018) (E.O. 13126). _X_ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015). _X_ (28) (i) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O. 11246). _X_ (29) (i) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212). ___ (ii) Alternate I (July 2014) of 52.222-35. _X_ (30) (i) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793). X_ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212). _X_ (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (JAN 2019) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). _X_ (42) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513). _X_ (46) 52.225-1, Buy American--Supplies (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83). _X_ (49) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). (c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] _X_ (2) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (Aug 2018) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.). See Wage Rates Attached. _X_ (3) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). _X_ (4) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (Aug 2018) (29 U.S.C.206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). _X_ (8) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015) (E.O. 13658). _X_ (9) 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706). 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 address(es): http://farsite.hill.af.mil/ 52.204-7 System for Award Management (Oct 2018) 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018) 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Jul 2016) 52.232‐40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 2013) 52-245-1 Government Property (Jan 2017) 52.245-9 Uses and Charges (Apr 2012) 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 30 days of contract expiration (base or option year). 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000) (a) The term of the base period shall be from the date of award through October 31, 2020. The Government has the right to extend the term of this contract for three additional Option periods, which may be exercised by the Contracting Officer by written notice to the Contractor within 10 days prior to the expiration of the contract as follows: Option Period 1 (Item 0002): November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021 Option Period 2 (Item 0003): November 1, 2021 through October 31, 2022 Option Period 3 (Item 0004): November 1, 2022 through October 31, 2023 (b) The Government has the right to exercise Option Item 0005 (Repotting Ash Trees Using Existing Pots and root trimming) at any time before 30 days prior to expiration of the base or exercised option period. (c) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 10 days prior to the expiration of the base period or preceding option period. Exercise of any option shall be evidenced on a Standard Form 30, citing this paragraph as the authority for exercising the option(s). An option shall be considered to have been exercised: (1) at the time the Government transmits written notification to the Contractor if the transmission is by fax, email, or other electronic means; or (2) at the time the Government deposits the notification in the U.S. mail. (c) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause. (d) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed four years and six months. 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (AUG 2019) (a) Definitions. As used in this provision-- Covered telecommunications equipment or services, Critical technology, and Substantial or essential component have the meanings provided in clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (b) Prohibition. Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. Contractors are not prohibited from providing-- (1) A service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or (2) Telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles. (c) Representation. The Offeror represents that-- It [ ] will, [ ] will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual instrument resulting from this solicitation. (d) Disclosures. If the Offeror has responded affirmatively to the representation in paragraph (c) of this provision, the Offeror shall provide the following information as part of the offer-- (1) All covered telecommunications equipment and services offered (include brand; model number, such as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); (2) Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications equipment and services and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b) of this provision; (3) For services, the entity providing the covered telecommunications services (include entity name, unique entity identifier, and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, if known); and (4) For equipment, the entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the OEM or a distributor, if known). 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (AUG 2019) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause-- Covered foreign country means The People's Republic of China. Covered telecommunications equipment or services means-- (1) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities); (2) For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities); (3) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or (4) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country. Critical technology means-- (1) Defense articles or defense services included on the United States Munitions List set forth in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations; (2) Items included on the Commerce Control List set forth in Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and controlled-- (i) Pursuant to multilateral regimes, including for reasons relating to national security, chemical and biological weapons proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, or missile technology; or (ii) For reasons relating to regional stability or surreptitious listening; (3) Specially designed and prepared nuclear equipment, parts and components, materials, software, and technology covered by part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to assistance to foreign atomic energy activities); (4) Nuclear facilities, equipment, and material covered by part 110 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export and import of nuclear equipment and material); (5) Select agents and toxins covered by part 331 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, part 121 of title 9 of such Code, or part 73 of title 42 of such Code; or (6) Emerging and foundational technologies controlled pursuant to section 1758 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4817). Substantial or essential component means any component necessary for the proper function or performance of a piece of equipment, system, or service. (b) Prohibition. Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. The Contractor is prohibited from providing to the Government any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in Federal Acquisition Regulation 4.2104. (c) Exceptions. This clause does not prohibit contractors from providing-- (1) A service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or (2) Telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles. (d) Reporting requirement. (1) In the event the Contractor identifies covered telecommunications equipment or services used as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, during contract performance, or the Contractor is notified of such by a subcontractor at any tier or by any other source, the Contractor shall report the information in paragraph (d)(2) of this clause to the Contracting Officer, unless elsewhere in this contract are established procedures for reporting the information; in the case of the Department of Defense, the Contractor shall report to the website at https://dibnet.dod.mil. For indefinite delivery contracts, the Contractor shall report to the Contracting Officer for the indefinite delivery contract and the Contracting Officer(s) for any affected order or, in the case of the Department of Defense, identify both the indefinite delivery contract and any affected orders in the report provided at https://dibnet.dod.mil. (2) The Contractor shall report the following information pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this clause: (i) Within one business day from the date of such identification or notification: The contract number; the order number(s), if applicable; supplier name; supplier unique entity identifier (if known); supplier Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code (if known); brand; model number (original equipment manufacturer number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number); item description; and any readily available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended. (ii) Within 10 business days of submitting the information in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this clause: Any further available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended. In addition, the Contractor shall describe the efforts it undertook to prevent use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services, and any additional efforts that will be incorporated to prevent future use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services. (e) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts and other contractual instruments, including subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items. End of Provision 12. The date, time and place quotes are due. October 16th, 2019 / 14:30 CST (Central Standard Time) 13. Point of Contact for Inquiries: Rita Fish-Whitlock USDA APHIS Animal and Plant Inspection Service 1250 Marquette Ave. Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 Office 612-336-3465 Cell 612-214-6766 Please submit questions in writing to Rita Fish-Whitlock, [email protected]. 14. Quoter is responsible for ensuring completeness of quotations. The Government may evaluate solely on the information provided in the quotation. Quotations that include additional terms may be excluded from consideration. Alternate Pricing Schedules will not be considered. Quotations must include a price for all items in the solicitation to be eligible for award. U.S. Department of Labor Register of Wage Determinations under the Service Contract Act for the location of the quoter shall apply.