USDA-Vessel Loading Observation Services
Vessel Loading Observation services provides oversight of the loading of U.S. agricultural commodities onto ocean going vessels at U.S. ports of export to help protect the integrity of U.S. foreign food assistance programs. VLO services provide third party observation of all cargo lots loaded to ocean vessels to reduce or eliminate the risk that anything other than clean, wholesome products, free from insect or rodent infestation or contamination, packaged in sound clean containers, are loaded for delivery to food aid programs. VLO inspectors have the authority to direct and supervise the correction or removal of damaged products, including those damaged at the dock, port shed, truck, or rail car to the barge, container, or vessel hold. VLO inspectors document all of these observations, including necessary corrections or removal of product. Vessel Loading Observation services will be conducted on packaged cargoes loaded breakbulk into barges or palletized into barges, containers, breakbulk and bulk-style vessels. The scope of this work will include product observation, damage prevention, damage reporting, and other ancillary duties including black lighting and tally counts. The observer shall report losses, damage, and shortage. 12-1NTS-21-R-0005 Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
2/25/21, 12:09 PM USDA-Vessel Loading Observation Services for International Food Aid Programs
Vessel Loading Observation services provides oversight of the loading of U.S. agricultural commodities onto ocean going vessels at U.S. ports of export to help protect the integrity of U.S. foreign food assistance programs. VLO services provide third party observation of all cargo lots loaded to ocean vessels to reduce or eliminate the risk that anything other than clean, wholesome products, free from insect or rodent infestation or contamination, packaged in sound clean containers, are loaded for delivery to food aid programs. VLO inspectors have the authority to direct and supervise the correction or removal of damaged products, including those damaged at the dock, port shed, truck, or rail car to the barge, container, or vessel hold. VLO inspectors document all of these observations, including necessary corrections or removal of product. Vessel Loading Observation services will be conducted on packaged cargoes loaded breakbulk into barges or palletized into barges, containers, breakbulk and bulk-style vessels. The scope of this work will include product observation, damage prevention, damage reporting, and other ancillary duties including black lighting and tally counts. The observer shall report losses, damage, and shortage. 12-1NTS-21-R-0005 Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
2/26/21, 1:10 PM 12-1NTS-21-R-0005 Award Notice
Awarded contract 12-1NTS-21-D-0002 to Cotecna Inspection Inc. for 5000000.00 on 2021-03-30. 44000001264 Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
4/20/21, 1:47 PM This notice answers submitted questions and releases an amendment to the solicitation 12-1NTS-21-R-0005. The amendment adds clarification to laboratory analysis requirements and clarification on instructions for submitting contractor personnel experience.
The solicitation is amended as follows: 1. Add the following sentence under 1.1.2 Objective #3: "In the event of possible contamination, laboratory analysis may be required including microbiological and chemical testing such as testing for moisture content and fit for human consumption testing" 2 Add the following sentence under 3.0 Proposal Instructions, paragraph 2: "The page limit includes all documents submitted in the offer including title pages, cover letters, resumes, and the technical proposal.” 3. Add the following language under 3.2 Contractor Capacity, paragraph 2: “or experience” and “summary of experience” 4. Replace the following language under 3.2 Contractor Capacity, paragraph 2: “2 pages” to “1 page” 5. Replace the following language under 3.4 Price Proposal, under item "Black Lighting": "per hour/daily" is replaced with “(as proposed)”. 12-1NTS-21-R-0005 Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
3/5/21, 12:52 PM