Hay and Cornstalk Baling IDIQ - RFQ

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. Quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Any amendments and document updates related to this solicitation will only be available electronically on SAM.gov. This is the only official location where the solicitation documents can be obtained and where updates will be posted. No hard copy solicitation materials are available. It is the responsibility of contractors to monitor SAM.gov Contract Opportunities regarding this solicitation. The solicitation number 12505B25Q0095 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated clauses and provisions are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-03. The associated NAICS is 115113 (Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine) with a small business size standard of under $13.5 Million. The applicable PSC is F099 (Natural Resources/Conservation- Other). This solicitation is issued under Full and Open Competition. The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Midwest Area (MWA) Administrative Offices Acquisitions & Personal Property/Fleet Team on behalf of the USDA-ARS MWA National Animal Disease Center (NADC) Animal Resources Unit in Ames, Iowa is requesting quotes for: 0001 Mixed Grass Hay Baling; Qty: Minimum: 20 acres, Maximum: 210 acres. 0002 Alfalfa Hay Baling; Qty: Minimum: 0 acres, Maximum: 30 acres. 0003 Cornstalk Baling; Qty: Minimum: 0 acres, Maximum: 70 acres. Order will be issued off of the resulting Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract on an as needed basis during the Period of Coverage which will be 05/01/2025 - 11/30/2025. Baling to be performed at USDA-ARS NADC located at 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, IA 50010, to commence within four (4) business days after receipt of a verbal or written order from an authorized Government employee, and all work to be completed within five (5) business days from the start date. Contractor must have previous direct experience providing equivalent service and must have active public facing company website for informational purposes to include current contact information. Quote shall include your company website address. The contractor must accept credit cards for delivery order payments. Quoted prices shall include any applicable credit card transaction fees per payment. For additional information please see the requirements document in the attachments. Inquiries concerning this solicitation are to be submitted in writing via email only to the point of contact listed in the Primary Point of Contact field. All inquiries regarding solicitation requirements or clarifications will be allowed up to 48-hours prior to the close date/time/time zone listed in the Date Offers Due field. No phone inquiries or requests for return phone calls will be accepted. No questions will be accepted or answered after this deadline unless determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Any inquiry responses or clarifications not already documented in the solicitation posting information will be added as an amendment for all offerors to access. This information will be noted in the Description field of the public posting at least 24-hours prior to the Date Offers Due. Date Offers Due extension requests will only be considered up to 24-hours prior to the close date/time/time zone listed in the Date Offers Due field. Not all extension requests will be granted. A complete quote must be submitted in writing via email to the point of contact listed in the Primary Point of Contact field and be received by or before the close date/time/time zone stated in the Date Offers Due field section relative to this solicitation with ALL of the requested and required documentation to be put into consideration for award. Any quotes received after the Date Offers Due will NOT be accepted or evaluated unless it is an updated to a quote initially received before the Date Offers Due. Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted. Verbal quotes made by phone call, quotes submitted by USPS mail, quotes submitted in the body of an email, OR quotes submitted ONLY on company letterhead WITHOUT a completed copy of the quote submission forms may NOT be accepted. Failure to submit all of the required documentation on time or meet all of the quote submission requirements may result in a quote being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. The Government anticipates making an award by or before the close of business on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Please ensure your quote will be current and that the price(s) quoted will NOT expire until after the anticipated award date or for at least 60 days after the close date/time/time zone listed in the Date Offers Due field (whichever is later). All correspondence concerning this solicitation shall be submitted via email only to the point of contact listed in the Primary Point of Contact field. No phone inquiries or requests for return phone calls will be accepted. No other contacts are listed that can officially represent this solicitation. Please note the time zone designation in the "General Information" section above. Other time zones are as designated in the solicitation attachments. The subject line of all emails related to this solicitation shall include the RFQ number. The RFQ number corresponds to the Notice ID field. It is recommended that the subject include the solicitation title as well. Failure to do so may result in any quote submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Only quotes submitted in response to a solicitation posted by someone from an Administrative Offices Acquisition and Personal Property/Fleet can be put into consideration for award. Any quotes that were provided or obtained by someone during the market research phase (such as in response to a request from a Program Office, a sources sought, etc.) or in response to a prior solicitation CANNOT be put into consideration for award. Be sure to read and review all of the attachments and to complete any and all additional documentation required as part of your quote submission. Of critical importance is to review the requirements document as it contains the technical specifications, features, and capabilities of the needed service(s). Contractors are to submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-1. The applicable FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions are included in the attachments. Contractors responding to this solicitation shall submit their quote along with all other requested and required documentation (such as completed FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions) that are to be included as part of all contractors responses. The Government anticipates making one Firm-Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract to a single contractor. The total price quoted will be used as the basis for evaluation and award. As such, the total price quoted must include any and ALL fees, charges, and/or surcharges as prices/costs cannot be added or changed after a Firm-Fixed Price Contract has been made. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. The eventual award will be made as a whole (not per line item) for ALL items listed on the quote submission form. As such, be certain you are able to provide and quote on all of the required items (including any options). If any line item(s) will be provided at no additional cost or will not be individually priced, please include it on your quote by entering a $0.00-dollar amount for the line item(s). Also, if the price/value of any line item(s) will be included in the price/value of one or more-line items, please specify which line item(s) are included under a single price. Otherwise, if a price is not entered for one or more-line items they will be considered as being quoted for a $0.00-dollar amount. If any line items are not included in a contractors quote it may be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Please review ALL of the FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions included in the document. The FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions constitute the terms and conditions for submitting a quote in response to the solicitation as well as the terms and conditions of the anticipated award. The FAR/AGAR provisions apply only to the solicitation and submission of quotes. The FAR/AGAR clauses apply to both the solicitation and submission of quotes as well as to the resulting award. The FAR/AGAR clauses will be included as part of the resulting award. Any addenda will be noted in the clauses and provisions document. The FAR clauses 52.212-4 and 52.212-5 as well as the FAR provisions 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 are applicable. The clauses listed under FAR 52.212-5(a) are applicable to all solicitations and awards. The clauses marked with an X under FAR 52.212-5(b) and (c) are applicable to the solicitation and the eventual award. The evaluation criteria of FAR 52.212-2 is outlined in a following paragraph. Additional FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions are detailed in the FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions document. It is strongly advised that a completed copy of the FAR provision FAR 52.212-3 be included with the submission of all quotes (especially if the applicable NAICS or a NAICS with the same or lower small business threshold is not included in a contractors SAM registration). A copy of FAR 52.212-3 is provided in the attachments. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, the criteria for evaluation and basis for award shall be best value. The evaluation factors for determining best value shall be as follows: Meets all of the technical capabilities outlined in the requirement document. Will be provided at prices determined to be fair and reasonable. Determined to have a satisfactory past performance*. * = Not found to have active exclusions, active proceedings, or listings of Terminations for Default/Cause within three years of the quote submission date. If a quote received is determined to be technically acceptable, at a price that is fair and reasonable, and is from a contractor found to be responsible then the evaluations will be closed and an award shall be made. If no quotes received are found to be technically acceptable, if none of the prices quoted are determined to be fair and reasonable, or none of the quoting contractors are found to be responsible then the solicitation may be amended and reposted, an entirely new solicitation may be posted, or the requirement may be cancelled. To be eligible to be put into consideration for award, all contractors who respond to a posted solicitation must have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time they submit their quote. NO EXCEPTIONS. Contractors who are not currently registered in SAM or whose SAM registration is inactive when they submit a quote will be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. A current and active SAM registration is also necessary for modifications to be made to any existing awards, orders to be placed against any existing contracts, and for payments to be made for products delivered or services rendered on prior awards. As such, it is critical to maintain a current and active SAM registration. Be certain you have a current and active SAM registration before submitting a quote in response to a solicitation. If you are NOT currently registered in SAM or your account has become inactive, you must register or reactivate your account and verify that it has become active prior to submitting a quote. Failure to do so will result in any quote submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Use of the Data Universal Numbering System (or DUNS) number as a contractors entity identifier ended on April 4, 2022. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is now required in order to register in SAM. The UEI# will be used as the primary contractors evaluation reference. Contractors must include their UEI# on ALL quotes submitted in response to this solicitation. Contractors should also include their SAM status as well as the business size and socio-economic status(es) for the applicable NAICS on their quote. Furthermore, contractors that are found to have active exclusions, active proceedings, or listings of Terminations for Default/Cause within three years of the quote submission date may be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Failure to do so will result in any quote submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. If you experience any problems with the SAM.gov website or your SAM registration and will require assistance you will need to call the SAM Helpdesk at 866-606-8220. If you have any questions related to the SAM.gov website or your SAM registration you will need to call the SAM Helpdesk as well. The POC(s) for the solicitation cannot assist you with this Government website. Invoice(s) for orders issued off of the resulting IDIQ contact with a total value that is at or below the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 shall be processed locally and paid via the Government purchase card. Invoice(s) for orders issued off of the resulting IDIQ contact with a total value in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 must be issued through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) in order to receive payment. In accordance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all payments for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 are to be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). The contractor shall provide financial institution information to the Finance Office designated above in accordance with FAR 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management. Effective May 6, 2013, payment requests that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). Payment Request means any request for financing payment or invoice payment by the vendor. Payment Request means any request for financing payment or invoice payment by the contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and ConditionsCommercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov. The contractor must use the IPP website to register, access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment on orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00. IPP is a government-wide secure web-based payment information service offered free of charge to Government agencies and their suppliers by the U.S. Department of Treasurys Financial Management Service (FMS). The submission and payment of invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 will be made through IPP. The "Submit Invoice-to" address for USDA-ARS orders in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 shall be IPP. To invoice for such orders, a contractor must enroll in IPP by visiting https://www.ipp.gov/contractors/index.htm. Once enrolled, all invoices for orders in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 must be submitted electronically through IPP. This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury and you can find more information at this website https://www.ipp.gov. Contractors must be currently registered or register in IPP at https://www.ipp.gov/contractors/enrollment in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00. Invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 that are submitted by any means other than through IPP cannot be processed for payment and will be rejected. Payment terms will be NET 30 from the date an invoice submitted in IPP is approved. Prepayment is NOT permitted. Approval of an invoice submitted in IPP will NOT be made until confirmation from the Program Office has been received that all services were fully rendered and were acceptable. Any invoice(s) submitted before service completion will be rejected. An invoice may be rejected for reasons including but not limited to if services have yet to be rendered, the services rendered were deemed unsatisfactory, the services are being invoiced under the wrong order, the stated service period does not line up with the orders period of performance, or the services provided do not meet the requirements stipulated in the IDIQ contact. Rejected invoices may be resubmitted in IPP for approval after service has been fully rendered or after any issues with the services performed have been resolved. Contractors must be certain all services have been fully rendered with no issues noted before submitting an invoice in IPP. All invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the service micropurchase threshold of $2,499.00 should be submitted in IPP within a year of the final delivery or completion date. If an invoice is not submitted timely through the required means then the allocated funds may be deobligated requiring you to file a claim in order to receive payment. Contractor assistance with enrollment, UserIDs and Passwords for IPP can be obtained by contacting the IPP Helpdesk via email at [email protected] or IPP Customer Support Desk at 1-866-973-3131. For all other IPP issues, please contact the National Finance Centers Controller Operations Division (COD) Helpdesk at 1-877-243-3072 or [email protected]. Any vender responding to this solicitation must ensure that its response is complete and furnishes sufficiently detailed technical information to allow the Government to conclusively determine that the contractor qualifies and is capable of providing services capable of meeting the technical specifications, features, and capabilities identified in the requirements document at the quoted price. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information not identified in the response. Interested contractors are instructed to only provide the information requested. Any additional information may not be reviewed. Failure to demonstrate compliance with all instructions and/or to provide the required information in the requested format may constitute sufficient cause for a quote to be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. All responsible sources may submit a quote which if received by the date and time noted in the Date Offers Due field will be put into considered for award. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. This solicitation does not constitute any commitment by the Government. It does not obligate the Government to make an award or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred in providing a response to this solicitation. The Government will provide no reimbursement for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of any information that is received in response to this solicitation. Contractors are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback to the contractors about any of the information received. Contractors who do not receive an award may not be notified of the results of this solicitation. Please be Advised: "System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations, including 52.223-22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction GoalsRepresentation, and paragraph (t) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and CertificationsCommercial Products and Commercial Services. Agencies will not consider or use these representations. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM." "System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations. Examples include 52.222-25, Affirmative Action Compliance, and paragraph (d) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and CertificationsCommercial Products and Commercial Services. Contracting officers will not consider these representations when making award decisions or enforce requirements. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM."