SOW_Contract_sampler.doc

Statement of Work To Assist the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration, Federal Grain Inspection Service

League City, Texas Field Office

In Providing AMA and Grain Inspection and Weighing Services

I.

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), facilitates the marketing of U.S. grain and related agricultural products through the establishment of standards for quality assessments, and regulation of handling practices. GIPSA’s Federal Grain Inspection Services (FGIS) administers the official inspection program under the authority of the US Standards for Grain and Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA), as amended.

The US Standards for Grain and the AMA authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to contract with private firms, institutions, and individuals for purpose of performing specified inspection services. FGIS will use this contracting authority to supplement its workforce by contracting with private firms, institutions, and individuals to test scales and prepare/review documents/dispatch or weigh bulk grain when requested by FGIS to help respond to unpredictable workloads.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

When requested by FGIS, the contractor must provide Federal Grain and Grain inspection services under the authority of the AMA and the US Grain Standard Act in the geographical area serviced by the FGIS League City, Texas, Field Office (F/O). These areas may include grain, corn, wheat, soybean, sorghum, and editable beans, facilities in the following areas:

· League City Field Office The inspection services that the F/O may assign to the contractor include but are not limited to, the following services (Reference: Official United States Standards under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946)

· Official Weighing Service.

Determine whether a plant/mill scales are within the specified approved range to weigh grain.

· Plant Approval (Sanitation) Service.

Determine whether a plant/mill is processing and/or packaging commodities under sanitary conditions. (Reference: FGIS Sanitation Handbook)

III. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The contractor must perform oversight of all grain inspection, grain inspections and weighing related services in accordance with the AMA (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.), regulations (7 CFR Part 868), Grain Inspection Handbook, Grain Inspection, Weighing Handbook, Aflatoxin Handbook, Vomitoxin Handbook, instructions, methods, and policies and procedures. (Reference: http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/GIPSA/webapp?area=home&subject=lr&topic=landing, US Standards for Grain, Subpart A 810:101 through Subpart M 810-2205) http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/handbook/weighing_inspec.aspx, Official Weighing Service Handbook

IV.

RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Individual Contractors The Contractor is responsible for providing review of grain, grain inspection, and related services to assist FGIS, when requested, in facilities in one or more of the following locations: League City, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi, Texas in accordance with the AMA, regulations, U.S. grain, instructions, and policies and procedures established under the authority of the AMA and the US Grain Standard Act, (Subpart A 810:101 through Subpart M 810:2205).

Individual Contractors Must:

1. Not have a conflict of interest (as specified in 7 CFR §868.80). Contractor must not have interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, in merchandising, handling, storing, or processing commodities of the kind to be sampled or related products.

2. Meet the physical condition requirements in the Sanitation Inspection Handbook.

3. Provide own transportation to and from point(s) of service.

4. Have readily available during working hours a valid license to perform assigned service, and abide by the field office, plant’s or mill’s safety and sanitation regulations.

5. Follow the U.S. Standards, regulations, and approved official procedures and approved equipment to perform grain and grain inspection, sampling, and other related services.

6. Review, complete, and sign required reports and inspection forms. Keep an accurate record of the time inspections begin and finish.

7. Bill FGIS for requested labor to assist in performing grain inspection and related services by preparing billing invoices for hourly services performed against the contract and submit them to the F/O for payment.

8. Report immediately any apparent violation of the AMA, Part 868 regulations, and instruction to the field office according to FGIS Directive 9070.6, Reporting Violation of the U.S. Grain Standards Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.

c.

FGIS League City FO

GIPSA’s, FGIS, Field Management Division personnel are responsible for interpreting standards and specifications; determining appropriate inspection methods and techniques; and developing inspection guidelines, instructions, handbooks, and training aids.

FGIS will:

1.

License Contractor determined by FGIS as qualified to perform official grain and grain inspection and related services. Test potential licensees to determine their skills and abilities. Conduct triennial renewals of licensed individuals. Issue licenses, in accordance with 7 CFR Part 868 Regulations as supplemented by FGIS-issued instructions and maintaining the licensing database.

2.

Provide the Contractor with the U.S. Standards for Grain; pertinent regulations, instructions, directives, and notices; sampling, inspection and weighing procedures and equipment; containers and tags for mailing samples; security containers; FGIS Directive 9070.6, Reporting Violations of the U.S. Grain Standards Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; official forms including Form FGIS-110, Bribery Card.

3. Monitor the performance of Contractor in the application of sampling methods and techniques; inspection procedures and results; and performing other services.

4.

Report to the Contracting Officer, if the Contractor is found to be in violation of the USGSA and the AMA regulations. FGIS will suspend or revoke any license according to applicable regulations when it deems such action to be for the good of USDA/GIPSA.

5.

Pay the contractor for assisting in performing grain, corn, wheat, soybean sorghum, and editable beans inspection and related services.

7.

Give Contractor the location and time of service requests.

8.

Spot check Contractor’s performance to ensure that it is according to contract specifications. The method and frequency of spot checking will be determined by the F/O and will depend on various factors including the contractor’s performance history, service point workload, distance, and budget constraints.

9.

Ensure that the Contractor understands: inspection methods and techniques; how to use handbooks, instructions, sampling plans, forms, and any equipment involved in performing required services; the necessity and procedures for sample, equipment, and inspection data security; that samples must be mailed to the appropriate laboratory in a timely manner; and that they are not employees of the Federal Government and therefore, are not covered by such benefits as health, retirement, vacation, social security, unemployment compensation, workman’s compensation, etc.

V.

BASES FOR PAYMENT

a.

Contractual services are based on the hourly rate with a guaranteed 2-hour minimum payment per call out.

b.

The hourly rate is uniform for all services covered by the contract, whether services are performed singly or combined.

c.

The service hours begin when the contractor arrives at the service location, but not before the call out time, and end when they leave the service location, less any mealtime (unless travel is outside a 25 mile radius from the service point).

d.

There is no special hourly rate for overtime, night differential, or holidays. The government mileage rate is paid from home to field office as appropriate, and travel time is paid from those same locations when travel is more than 25 miles.

e.

Payment for partial service hours is based on one-fourth of the hourly rate for each quarter hour worked.

f.

The number of hours requested to work is not guaranteed; that is, the hours might be less than the amount shown in the purchase order.

g. Form FGIS-30, Daily Time and Charge Document or a FGIS- 922 must be completed and sent to the F/O each time called to a service location to perform a service. If, upon arrival, there was no work (including standby time), the service location call out, departure times, and the phrase 2-hour minimum, must be shown in the Comments of Sampler block. If there was less than 2 hours of work performed (including standby time), the service location, departure time and the phrase 2-hour minimum, must be shown in the block.

VI.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

It is essential for the Contractor, to display a positive image of USDA/GIPSA by ensuring that their employees maintain favorable relations with the grain loading facility and associated staff. Personnel must be courteous in their dealings with facility management. The Contractor must carry identification at all times. Work must be performed with due care, taking precautions against damage to property and interference with vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The Contractor must protect against damage to all USDA/GIPSA, commodity loading facility, and associated property.

VII.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

A.

The government will evaluate the Contractor's performance under this contract. Nonperformance or substandard task performance will be documented when it occurs.

B.

The Government will monitor quality control procedures under this contract as required by Administrative Handbook.

VIII.

CONTRACTOR LIABILITY

The Contractor is liable for any damages, losses, or injuries to people, property, and animals, which occur as a result, directly or indirectly, from work performed by the contractor’s employees and subcontractors while under contract with USDA/GIPSA. The Contractor must immediately notify FGIS and the Contracting Officer, of any damages, losses, or injuries occurring during the performance of any contract with USDA.

VIIII.

POINT OF CONTACTS

1. POC to contact Contractor- Field Office Manager, Alan Wadyko, 281 338-2934

2. POC for issues with this order: Administrative Officer, Deborah A. Edwards, 281 338-6636

3. Who will be responsible for entering the invoice in IPP: Venice Tony, 281 724-6112

4. Has there been a previous order. If so, what is the number? No previous order has been developed.

5. Contractor will be0 utilized for a 6-month but not more than 1-year period.

X.

TECHNICAL DUTIES

The incumbent is responsible for assisting in inspection and weighing activities for assigned shifts at an export elevator. Work assignments are rotated among shifts and elevators within the commuting area. The incumbent is also responsible for carrying out the quality assurance program with respect to grading activities.

The incumbent has a good working knowledge of and is well qualified to explain the objectives and requirements of the U.S. Grain Standards Act of 1976, the Agricultural Marketing Act of

1946, and the rules and regulations thereunder, interprets grain and other physical standards; and explains inspection and weighing procedures, and requirements to the industry, state and local inspection agencies, and other interested groups.

Deals directly with industry representatives to resolve problems that occur in inspection, staffing, workloads, and other areas where problems may develop.

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