Purchase Order 1232SA26P0127

On April 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Midwest Area awarded a $46.7M firm fixed-price purchase order to Superior Livestock, Inc., a small disadvantaged business based in Joice, Iowa. The contract calls for the delivery of 15 Holstein or Holstein-cross calves, laboratory fees, and associated delivery services to support agricultural research at the USDA National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa. The award was made without a set-aside designation and carries an ultimate completion date of May 31, 2026. This purchase order originated from a market survey initiated in January 2026 to identify qualified vendors capable of supplying calves meeting strict health and sourcing criteria for a research project examining mucosal colonization of Mannheimia haemolytica in cattle.

Superior Livestock, Inc. has demonstrated consistent capability in supplying specialized livestock to federal research agencies, with an established history of providing various calf breeds to USDA ARS for agricultural and veterinary research purposes. The calves procured under this contract must meet specific requirements including being BVD-negative, Mycoplasma bovis negative, colostrum-deprived, approximately 7-8 weeks old, dewormed, and sourced from farms within 100 miles of Ames, Iowa. The contracted work supports critical agricultural research initiatives conducted by the ARS, which focuses on advancing animal health and disease prevention through scientific investigation.