ATTACHMENT_1_-_SPECIFICATIONS_FOR_TAMPER_EVIDENT_PLASTIC_ALPHANUMERIC_SERIAL_ _AND_FLOCK_IDPREMISE_EARTAGS.docx

ATTACHMENT ONE (1) - SPECIFICATIONS FOR TAMPER EVIDENT PLASTIC ALPHANUMERIC SERIAL AND FLOCK ID/PREMISE EARTAGS

1. General:

The Contractor shall supply data supporting the durability and legibility of the identification numbers and retention rates of the tags in sheep and goats. Tags shall have excellent retention and legibility rates in sheep and goats throughout their lives and must minimize injury to the ear. Data meeting the following requirements is desirable for evaluating tag retention, durability and legibility:

· At least 100 lambs and/or kids tagged at 8 weeks or less of age with the test tag and the current plastic tag provided free by APHIS in the opposite ear should be evaluated at least 90 days after application.

· An accredited veterinarian or other third party acceptable to APHIS should observe the application of the tags with the type of applicator provided for use with the tags and record the type of tags and applicator used, the ages and types of animals used, the numbers on the tags applied to each animal, and any problems with the application of the tags including any difficulties in applying the tags, using the applicator or if there is an unusual amount of discomfort to the animal during or after application.

· The accredited veterinarian or other third party acceptable to APHIS should observe the tags at least 90 days after application and record any tags that are lost or damaged, the number of ears disfigured or infected and the severity, the legibility of the tags including fading, and any other issues observed that may affect the utility of the tags or applicator.

· This data must be provided with the application and must be signed by the accredited veterinarian or other acceptable third party.

If such data is not available other types of retention data and/or evidence of long term successful use in sheep/goats may be considered in evaluating retention; however, to be considered responsive it must provide evidence of an acceptable level of retention as determined by APHIS.

Tag and applicators currently under contract for use in the scrapie program are considered to have met the minimum requirements for retention data submission based on the previous evaluation; however, such companies if submitting an offer for this solicitation should submit any retention data subsequently obtained. Supporting data must also include, if available, evidence of long term successful use in sheep and goats such as number sold by year and history of complaints regarding quality. Preference may be given to tags for which successful long term use in sheep and goats can be demonstrated or for which long term retention data demonstrating a high level of retention is provided. Offerors must submit any data they have that shows poorer performance of the eartag or applicator than the data submitted.

Tags must be an appropriate size and weight for use in sheep and goats of all ages. The Contractor shall agree to (a) only send official eartags to the either a State or APHIS representative or to a flock owner at the address, to which the tag sequence was assigned by a State or APHIS representative, as directed by APHIS; (b) when requested provide a monthly report of all tags produced and sent to a State including the tag sequences produced and the address to which the tags were shipped; (c) use only the letter and/or number sequences designated by APHIS on official tags; (d) use the Government shield only on official tags; (e) maintain the confidentiality of all information provided by APHIS or accessed through the APHIS website; and (f) report the total cost of the contract by month, by date of order, within one week of the end of the month and by week when requested. Tag order information will be entered by the tag company through an APHIS web page into an APHIS database. The current web application is the Animal Identification Management System.

Tags shall not be readily removable and once removed not easily placed on another animal and shall be tamper evident.

Tags shall be readily distinguishable as USDA Official sheep tags and incorporate a unique copyrighted logo or trademark to identify the supplier and to discourage counterfeiting.

If tags do not demonstrate adequate retention, legibility, and durability in field use, or if any of these requirements or the requirements to remain an approved scrapie program tag manufacturer or AIN manager are not met by the Contractor, the contract may be terminated.

Tags will be shipped to the addresses provided through the AIMS web page or as directed by APHIS as specified in the delivery order. The minimum delivery order will be 20 tags or 1 applicator. Tags must be shipped within 10 business days of receipt of the order in AIMS. Shipping method must on average result in delivery within 15 business days of receipt of the order in AIMS within the continental US. Information in AIMS must accurately reflect the tags shipped. Tags may not be shipped until they are shown as fulfilled in AIMS. Note: this process should be completed before tag manufacture to validate that the numbers have not been previously issued. Any tag wastage occurring as a result of not following this guidance will not be compensated.

2. Plastic Specifications:

The eartags shall be made of durable, non-tissue reactive plastic, and be small enough and light enough for a sheep or goat. Also, the tag shall not cause the ear to droop when applied. The plastic shall not break or crack upon closure of the eartag or when bent. Sheep program tags shall be pure white plastic and slaughter only tags will be pure medium blue plastic. The tag shall not contain lead or other toxic substances. The tag must last for the life of the sheep or goat. Manufacturer shall provide a certified statement regarding the type of plastic used, its freedom from toxic substances, and that the tag will not cause chemical contamination of meat or edible offal or damage the hide.

Tags must be durable with respect to UV light, moisture, heat (45C) and cold (-30C), and other environmental conditions such as exposure to chemicals, mud, urine or manure for at least 5 years. Manufacturer shall provide third party evaluation of durability with respect to UV light, moisture, heat (45C) and cold (-30C) and wear. Tags shall not exhibit damage or change due to wear, and must be tested in accordance with ICAR standards and comply with ISO standard 9352.

3. Closure Specifications:

The tags shall be self-piercing and self-locking and of tamper evident design. The tag shall have a self-piercing tip that will penetrate the animal’s ear during the process of closing. Self-piercing tip shall lock through the female tag. It shall not protrude more than 5/16 of an inch above the inside surface plane of female tag after locking and must not have any rough surfaces. Tag closure must perform in hot (45C) and cold (-30C) environments. Manufacturer shall provide third party evaluation of tag coupling tensile strength in accordance with ICAR testing standards and, at a minimum comply with ISO standards 37 and 527.

4. Printing Specifications:

Tamper Evident Alphanumeric Serial Tags - The female part of two-part tags or either part of a one part tag shall be imprinted with up to a 15 character alphanumeric serial number and be consecutively numbered starting with the serial number provided by APHIS for each state

Tamper Evident Flock ID/Premises Tags - Both the male and female parts of two-part tags or either part of a one part tag shall be imprinted with up to a 9 character alphanumeric premises identification number or flock ID number and up to a 6 digit alphanumeric serial production number and shall be consecutively numbered as indicated on individual delivery orders issued against this contract. These numbers must be on separate lines or separated by a space.

The numbers for both serial and flock ID/premise tags are unique numbers and shall not be duplicated. The numbers and letters are assigned by APHIS or the State, and they will change from delivery order to delivery order. All characters shall be Arial or Helvetica bold or another font acceptable to APHIS. All characters are laser embedded into the plastic. All characters shall be readable from at least 30 inches, and the last 4 characters of a serial number and the entire production number shall be readable from at least 10 feet on at least one part of the tag and shall be as large as possible given the size of the tag. The number may be printed on one or two lines. There shall be adequate separation between characters to ensure legibility. The lettering must be non-fading and resistant to alteration or removal and the base color must remain distinguishable during the expected life of the tag. Slaughter only, medium blue tags, will be imprinted with the words “SLAUGHTER ONLY” or in the case of small tags “MEAT” on the male tag. SFCP program tags will be imprinted with “SFCP”.

On all tags, the letters U.S. shall be enclosed in the Government shield on the male and female tag parts and shall be imprinted in the largest size that will fit the tag.

Tags shall incorporate a unique copyrighted logo or trademark to identify the supplier. The logo or trademark may be printed or may be molded into the plastic.

5. Quality Control:

The contractor shall adhere to their quality control plan.

After a contract is awarded, the successful Contractor shall provide a monthly report that shows the number of quality checks performed, when they were performed, and identify tags that were reworked or rejected. Contractor will also maintain a record of product returned and all complaints regarding tags provided under the contract and provide a monthly report of all such complaints. Contractor will also immediately report any misprinted tags or defective tags or applicators that were shipped and any incorrectly shipped tags.

6. Packaging Specifications:

Tags shall be packaged such that the male and female tags are linked or packaged together and the tag numbers maintained in sequential order. Both pieces of a two piece ear tag shall be arranged/attached in such a way that the producer and/or animal health official knows that the male and female portion go together without having to check the tag numbers and can readily and quickly assemble and apply the tags sequentially to large or small groups of animals. Tag order must be maintained during normal handling; for example, tags packaged in trays must not fall out if the tray is inverted or dropped.

The contractor must include tag use and application instructions provided by APHIS with each tag order.

Attachment One (1) – Plastic Tag Specifications Page 1 of 4 1/13/2014