SOLICITATION NOTICE
88 -- Bee Hives
- Notice Date
- 3/24/2014
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 112910
— Apiculture
- Contracting Office
- Agricultural Research Service - Pacific West Area
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- AG-81J8-S-14-0324
- Archive Date
- 4/19/2014
- Point of Contact
- Sheri Eiri, Phone: 520-316-6314
- E-Mail Address
-
sheri.eiri@ars.usda.gov
(sheri.eiri@ars.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- (i)This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation no. AG-81J8-S-14-0324 is issued for a Request for Quote (RFQ). (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-72. (iv) This procurement is 100% set-aside for small business. The NAICS code is 112910 and the small business size standard is $0.75 million average annual receipts. (v) The USDA, ARS, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center requires 160 bee hives in California. (vii) Delivery to Turlock, California or FBO Origin CA Bee-Keepers Field site. The 160 hives can be splits, but the bees and comb must be sourced from hives used for a 2014 almond pollination contract in California. The 160 honey bee hives must include: Equipment in good condition, painted, and no holes or major cracks in woodenware: Two standard 10-frame deep boxes (16 1/4" x 19 7/8" x 9 5/8"). Migratory-style lid (non-telescoping). Hives will be delivered on a 4-hive pallet. (40 pallets total). The pallet provides the bottom board for the hive, and has a cleat for securing the hive body to the pallet. Entrance reducer (can be separate or integrated with pallet). 2-frame in-hive feeder. 8-10 frames of drawn comb (see additional details below). 8-10 new (unused) frames of foundation. (Wooden frames with plasticell are preferred). Quotes should include age and condition of frames. A strong and healthy cluster of bees, with a minimum of: A new (2014) marked queen from a reputable queen breeder, at least 6-8 frames of bees, and a frame of bees is defined as the approximate number of bees needed to cover two frame faces on a standard 9 1/8" frame. 8-10 frames of drawn comb, with at least 3 frames of healthy brood and 3 frames of food (i.e., honey and pollen stores). Frames and wax comb must be in good condition and relatively new (less than 5 years). Quotes should include age and condition of combs and frames. Bids with newer comb (i.e., less than 1-3 years) will be preferred and also include delivery location or pick up location of bee hives. The hives need to be delivered to Bee-Keepers field site in central California, with sufficient forage and/or supplemental feed to maintain them through the end of April 2014. The beekeeper will be responsible for supplying a forklift and personnel for unloading the hives at location. If the beekeeper can provide delivery to an apple orchard (before or after receipt of hives), this would be preferred. If the hives cannot be delivered to an apple orchard, then preference will be given to bids that deliver the apples to an apiary environment with healthy forage and less than 50 miles from Turlock, California. Hives must be delivered according to a pre-arranged date and time between April 19th and April 30th 2014. The hive status, health, brood, and food stores must meet the terms of the bid at the time of delivery. Since these hives will be used for research, it's important that the beekeeper is able to provide detailed information on the health and management history of the hives. Interested firms are to provide answers to the following questions. RFQ's will be evaluated on the basis of best value to the Government considering price, delivery, answers to questions, quality and past performance. a. Feeding, treatment, and overwintering practices, particularly in the year prior to creating these splits: i. What types of supplemental feed have been used, and when? 1. Were these bees fed large amounts of sugar syrup and/or protein before overwintering? 2. What recipes were used, including supplemental vitamins/minerals/oils? ii. What types and methods for pest/pathogen treatment have been used, and when? 1. Have the hives been treated with antibiotics (e.g., Terramycin)? 2. Have the hives been treated with acaricides/miticides? 3. Have the hives been treated for Nosema? 4. How have these treatments been applied (recipes, durations, and seasonal frequency are all important). iii. What methods, if any, have been used for monitoring the pest and pathogen loads in these hives? 1. When were the hives' brood chambers last inspected for signs of disease? 2. Have the hives been checked for mite loads? a. (e.g., with mite drops or sugar/ethanol shakes?) b. Can the beekeeper make these results available to us? 3. Have the hives been tested for Nosema loads? a. What methods were used? b. Can the beekeeper make these results available to us? iv. Where, when, and how were these hives prepared for winter? 1. Were the hives stored in a holding yard or a warehouse? 2. What were the temperature conditions where the hives were stored? v. How were these hives prepared for almond pollination and brought out for the spring? 1. Were they taken to holding yards and/or fed supplemental feed prior to arriving in the almonds? 2. Were they treated or manipulated during the almond pollination? 3. Were they moved, treated, or fed after leaving the almonds? b. Have any of the hives or their apiaries suffered abnormal winter losses in the past several years? (viii) The provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (ix) The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (x) The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items applies to this acquisition, with these additional FAR clauses cited in the clause applicable to the acquisition: 52.204-7 System for Award Management (Jul 2013), 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards; 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment; 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations; 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011, 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans; 52.223-18, Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving; 52.225-3, 52.225-13Buy American Act-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act, Alt II; 52.225-13, 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies (Feb 2009), Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases; 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer, 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (Jul 2013)-System for Award Management. The full text of all clauses and provisions are available at www.acqnet.gov Please note your DUNS Number and whether a government credit card or electronic funds transfer is an preferred form of payment option on your quote. All interested contractors responding must be registered and have an active registration in System For Award Management (SAMS). (xi) The offers are due Friday, 4 April 2014, noon MST, to sheri.eiri@ars.usda.gov (xvi) Contact Sheri Eiri, 520-316-6314, sheri.eiri@ars.usda.gov for information regarding this solicitation.
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