Amendment 1 final.pdf

(x)

123A9421R0003 x x

1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

FSIS-ASD-ACQUISITION

BELTSVILLE MD 20705-5230

5601 SUNNYSIDE AVENUE

MAILDROP 5230

USDA, FSIS, ASD, ACQUISITIONS

02/02/20210001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

01/21/2021

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this amendment is to change the anticipated contract type from an Indefinite

Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) to Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). This amendment also provides answers to questions received for this solicitation. Note: If interested, a sample pathology box may be shipped to your address for further evaluation.

Q1. Is an incumbent contract #?

A1. Contract #AG-3A94-B-13-0007 with Complete Packaging & Shipping Supplies, Inc., which expired on March 28, 2019.

Q2. Will this ship Category B?

A2. No.

Continued ...

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

TRACY A. POPE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

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123A9421R0003/0001

Q3. Will this be exempt?

A3. No.

Q4. What is the volume of Formalin?

A4. Each box contains plastic sample jars with screw top lids, each containing ~50 ml of formalin.

Q5. Are you shipping any infections items?

A5. No.

Q6. What is the board grade for the exterior portion of the packaging?

A6. No board grade is specified, though please consider the following: pathology boxes need to be durable and reusable able to last multiple round trips between the laboratory and slaughter plants throughout the US; must meet EPA recommendations for the use of recycled content/paper/structural fiberboard and laminated paperboard; must meet all US Department of

Transportation Shipping Requirements as well as those of the Federal Government contractor for overnight package deliveries.

Q7. On the foam insert, it says the thumb holes should be 1 to 1 ¼ inch deep, would it be conforming if the thumb holes in the foam were cut the same depth of the insert (3 ¼ inch)?

A7. Possibly, we would need to evaluate a sample.

Q8. Do the boxes go to just Athens, Georgia, or do they also ship to Athens, GA, St. Louis, MO, and Albany, CA?

A8. Only to Athens, GA

Q9. What are the quantities for each year?

A9. Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 boxes/year

Q10. Will boxes need to be held in stock by the contractor to ship on purchase orders from the receiving locations?

A10. Yes.

Q11. Foam inserts are one piece molded. For cost saving can we devise a foam insert that will perform to the requested needs?

A11. Possibly, we would need to evaluate a

Continued ...

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Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

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123A9421R0003/0001 sample.

Q12. What is the dimension of the foam?

A12. Please refer to the Statement of Work attached on the beta.SAM.gov website

Q13. Have they provided a PMS color code for the bright yellow?

A13. Yes.

Q14. Will we be required to provide samples?

A14. Yes.

Q15. It looks as though there are two ship two locations one in Georgia and one in Maryland?

Please confirm the ship to addresses.

A15. The only ship to is for the USDA Eastern

Lab at 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605

Q16. Can we obtain a drawing for the box and foam. A CAD drawing of the box would be ideal.

Also, at least the spec sheet.

A16. Please refer to the Statement of Work attached on the beta.SAM.gov website.

Q17. From the documentation we have been provided there is no information with regard to the flute on the box. Is there an artwork file for the box?

A17. Artwork saved as a .pdf in the Statement of

Work.

Q18. Would we be able to obtain a sample?

A18. Yes. If interested, a sample pathology box may be shipped to your address for further evaluation.

Q19. Can you share the historical quantity the

USDA has purchased of these pathology boxes annually?

A19. Historically around 2,000 boxes/year

Q20. Do you want the pathology boxes built-out for shipment? If so, shipped by pallet?

A20. Yes. We are still considering the logistics, but to give you a general idea, we could be requesting 10 cases each containing 40 pathology boxes 3-4 times a year.

Q21. Do you want the last 3 pages of the RFP

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123A9421R0003/0001 printed and inserted as packing slips inside the pathology boxes?

A21. That information is printed on the box.

Please refer to the Statement of Work (or sample box if you are interested in having one shipped).

Q22. Is there any sort of hazmat label requirement or hazmat certification registration required with Department of Transportation to ship this box?

A22. No board grade is specified, though please consider the following: pathology boxes need to be durable and reusable able to last multiple round trips between the laboratory and slaughter plants throughout the US; must meet EPA recommendations for the use of recycled content/paper/structural fiberboard and laminated paperboard; must meet all US Department of Transportation Shipping Requirements as well as those of the Federal Government contractor for overnight package deliveries.

Q23. Is there an existing contract for this pathology box? If so, who was the vendor?, what was the contract length?, and how much was the contract worth?

A23. The previous contract #AG-3A94-B-13-0007 with Complete Packaging & Shipping Supplies, Inc.

expired in March 2019. The contract length was three years. The total contract amount was approximately $45k.

Q24. Is there a document from the previous contract with the previous fair market price of the pathology box?

A24. Prices are not available from the previous contract.

Q25. What is the grade of foam material for the insert?

A25. No board/foam grade material is specified, though please consider the following: pathology boxes need to be durable and reusable able to last multiple round trips between the laboratory and slaughter plants throughout the US; must meet

EPA recommendations for the use of recycled content/paper/structural fiberboard and laminated paperboard; must meet all US Department of

Transportation Shipping Requirements as well as those of the Federal Government contractor for

Continued ...

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123A9421R0003/0001 overnight package deliveries.

Q26. Can you share the dimensions of grooves and placement of the 2-2.25 inch diameter holes in the 9x5.25x3.25 inch Styrofoam block?

A26. The location of the holes could vary somewhat from the current design; however, for general guidance, the edge of the holes could be centrally located within the Styrofoam block and equidistant from the length/width margins

(roughly 1 to 1.25 inches from the edges).

The groove is 1 inch wide and 0.75 inch deep, spans the distance of the block (lengthwise = 9 inch), and passes through the holes that hold the formalin jars. The grooves are important to be able to grasp/remove the jars of formalin from the Styrofoam block.

Q27. Why didn't the USDA determine this solicitation to be a small business set-aside?

A27. You are correct in the small business set-aside requirement however, based on our historical knowledge of this procurement and our current market research, two or more small businesses under the stated NAICS code were not located. The CO made the determination to solicit full and open. If you are a small business that can provide the requirement in the RFP, you are welcome to apply and will receive priority consideration for review over other categories.

Q28. How will Government validate or enforce 52.204-23 and 52.204-25? Will the awarded contractor be required to certify they comply with the prohibition, and if found in violation, will this be deemed a violation of the False Claims Act?

A28. This requirement is for the contractor to report to the Contracting Officer if such situation is found applicable and the CO will determine next steps at that time.

Q29. We want to confirm our understanding of the requirement to report executive compensation in compliance with 52.204-10. If the selected prime contractor has more than $25 million in annual gross revenue from federal contracts, and this constitutes 80% of their revenue, they must report / disclose total compensation to all officers, managing partners, and other employees Continued ...

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123A9421R0003/0001 in management positions? Does this requirement flow down to subcontractors?

Q29. Yes, it does flow down to subcontractors.

Q30. We notice 52.222-62 applies to this contract. Does this contract require the contractor to pay sick leave at a rate of 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked?

A30. 52.222-62 is not applicable to this contract and will be removed.

Q31. Do you require the selected contractor to provide a copy of their Code of Business Ethics and Conduct to the Government? (Reference

52.203-13)

A31. 52.203-13 is not applicable. This is a commercial item and it will be performed in the

U.S.

Period of Performance: 03/15/2021 to 03/14/2026

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