Description
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, WBSC, Stoneville, Mississippi, intends to award a sole source procurement to California Pellet Mill-Roskamp, 1114 East Wabash Ave., Crawfordsville, IN 47933, for a laboratory scale ring die pellet mill (model CL5) with three phase motor, conditioner, tool kit, and 3/16" lab die. This pellet mill will be used to support alternative feed ingredient research in broiler chickens. The pellet mill (model CL5) manufactured by CPM-Roskamp is identical in function to the industrial scale pellet mill currently used to mix large diets at the Poultry Research Unit and other commercial feedmills. The CL5 uses a ring die design which reproduces the same mechanism used in larger scale pellet mills, and is the only known laboratory scale mill using this design. Other laboratory mills use a vertical extrusion plate design which is a markedly different process for producing pellets, depending on gravity to regulate the feed rate of material into the die. In addition, the screw feed design of the CL5 mill allows for variable feeding rates as well as steam conditioning, two features which are not available on vertical extrusion plate mills. CPM-Roskamp is the only known manufacturer of laboratory scale ring die pellet mills which use the identical mechanism for commercial scale ring die pellet mills. Pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The equipment will be located at the USDA, ARS, MSA, Poultry Research Unit, Mississippi State, MS. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price Purchase Order on or about July 18, 2014. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:00PM Central Standard Time, July 17, 2014. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via mail to the Contracting Officer at the following address: Contracting Office Address: USDA-ARS-WBSC SHALUNDA MIX 141 Experiment Station Road Stoneville, MS. 38776-0225