Attachment 01 Schedule SOW.pdf

1. General Information

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) intends to award one or more fixed- priced Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type contracts to procure USDA-approved AIN compliant RFID button ear tags for USDA’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program.

1.1 Price Schedule

CLIN Description Est Qty Unit Unit Price Extended Price total Excess tag manufacturing capacity for monthly delivery schedules.

0001 Ordering Period 1: USDA Approved Low Frequency Cattle tag

8 Mil EA $____ $____ _____Per month

1001 Ordering Period 2: USDA Approved Low Frequency Cattle tag

8 Mil EA $____ $____ ____Per month

2001 Ordering Period 3: USDA Approved Low Frequency Cattle tag

8 Mil EA $____ $____ ____Per month

3001 Ordering Period 4: USDA Approved Low Frequency Cattle tag

8 Mil EA $____ $____ ____Per month

4001 Ordering Period 5: USDA Approved Low Frequency Cattle tag

8 Mil EA $____ $____ _____Per month

TOTAL (0001-4001) Total: $________

Cost per tag shall include all costs necessary to supply and deliver the tags free on board (FOB) Destination (including but not limited to tag cost and per order costs for set-up and data entry). If different color tags have different pricing, please break that down in the response.

The quantities in the schedule are estimates only and are not guaranteed. The current minimum order required by this contract is $25,000. There is no obligation or guarantee that additional tags will be ordered.

1.2 Type of contract

This contract is an IDIQ contract. Supplies with be ordered through the issuance of individual Delivery Orders (orders) as the requirements of the USDA dictate. Each order will include the specific requirements for quantities, colors, and delivery. Order pricing will be in accordance with the fixed rates established in the pricing schedule unless a lower price is provided in a fair opportunity competitive quote. Delivery Orders shall be issued by a warranted USDA Contracting Officer via email.

Contract and delivery order minimums and maximums are addressed in the following clauses: See 52.216-19, “Order Limitations”. The line-item quantities listed in the Pricing Schedule are estimates for evaluation purposes only and are not intended to convey either a minimum or maximum quantity that will be ordered by the Government. The period of performance for this contract is five (5) years from date of award. See clauses FAR 52.216-18, Ordering and FAR 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity.

1.3 Scope of work

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS), requires the supply and distribution of AIN Compliant RFID cattle ear tags and ear tag applicators. These cattle tags are commercially available off the shelf items and come in many colors. The Contractor shall provide USDA approved, Animal Identification Number (AIN) compliant, Half Duplex (HDX) Low Frequency (LF) RFID button ear tags, and their associated applicators to the USDA, APHIS, VS.

The RFID button ear tags will be provided to USDA in support of the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program.

USDA will order currently approved tags from vendors at the time of the order per the terms of AIN Tag Manufacturer’s Agreement. Overall estimated need is five (5) to eight (8) million tags per year. This amount is the current estimated need for all contracts combined and is not a guaranteed amount.

1.4 Background

In May 2024, USDA APHIS published an update to 9 CFR Part 86 requiring that ear tags applied on or after November 5, 2024, be both visually and electronically readable to be recognized for use as official ear tags for interstate movement of cattle and bison covered under the regulations. This transition will advance Animal Disease Traceability by continuing to increase the number of cattle and bison involved in interstate commerce identified with electronic identification (EID). A larger percentage of animals with EID ear tags will help to reduce the time and effort involved in disease traces and responses.

The USDA APHIS VS, intends to acquire HDX LF RFID button ear tags for cattle and bison for use with the ADT program. This requirement is intended to reduce the cost of EID ear tags to the producer and stakeholder, while still supporting the tag manufacturers of official ID in a competitive market environment.

Eligible vendors are limited to manufacturers that are USDA approved AIN tag manufacturers prior to Award. Eligible devices are limited to HDX LF AIN button tags certified by ICAR for conformance with ISO- 11784 and 11785 that received USDA approval prior to Award and have current approval status.

Manufacturers must be able to provide white and orange tags but other tag colors may be ordered at the discretion of USDA.

1.5 Period of Performance

Award through five years consisting of 5 ordering periods.

2. Contract Requirements

The Contractor shall supply proof of their status as an USDA AIN device manufacturer. This includes a written certification that the device being offered is a currently approved AIN device and further that the device meets the same standards and specifications of its initial approval and/or current device standards as outlined in the Official Animal Identification Devices Standards (OAIDS). The certification must also include the AIN product number, species certification, and the Manufacturer’s Product name/Number (example: AIN 0002, approved for use with cattle, bison, deer & elk, 4 Star button tag).

2.1 Contractor’s Tag Requirements

Tags must meet or exceed safety, performance, conformance, and retention requirements to be considered approved for use as official identification in cattle and bison as detailed in the USDA APHIS Animal Disease Traceability Official Animal Identification Device Standards (OAIDs). Tags must be both visually and electronically readable to meet the criteria for official use in cattle and bison as outlined in 9 CFR Part 86.

2.2 Tag Distribution Requirements

The Contractor shall:

a) Only distribute USDA Official 840 RFID ear tags to Requesting State, Tribe, Territory, or Area Veterinarian in Charge Office with a valid premises identification number (PIN) or location identification number (LID).

b) Validate all PINs and LIDs via USDA's Animal Identification Number Management System (AIMS) or similar PIN allocator database.

c) Not exceed tag allocation for each State.

d) Provide a system to receive and track orders, including:

a. Tag manufacturer/company name and PIN (may also be known as NPN, or non-producer participant number)

b. Requesting State, Tribe, Territory, or Area Veterinarian in Charge Office Name

c. Recipient contact name

d. Recipient shipping address

e. Recipient PIN or LID (and associated address, if not the same as the shipping address)

f. Recipient contact information (telephone number/email)

g. Number of tags requested and shipped

h. AIN numbers and case numbers of the tags shipped

i. Confirmation of shipment date, delivery date, and receipt of tags by producer

e) Provide corresponding reports by email with information for each invoice to the COR unless otherwise specified on delivery order monthly. Reports should be in .xls or .xlsx https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/animal-id-device-standards.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-86 format unless otherwise specified. Reports will include:

• Tag manufacturer/company name and PIN (may also be known as NPN, or non-producer participant number)

• Requesting State, Tribe, Territory, or Area Veterinarian in Charge Office Name

• Recipient contact name

• Recipient shipping address

• Recipient PIN or LID (and associated address, if not the same as the shipping address)

• Recipient contact information (telephone number/email)

• Number of tags requested and shipped

• AIN numbers and case numbers of the tags shipped

• Confirmation of shipment date, delivery date, and receipt of tags by producer

f) Use only the AIN sequences designated by APHIS on official tags.

g) Use the U.S. shield only on official tags.

h) Maintain the confidentiality of all information provided by

APHIS or accessed through the APHIS website.

APHIS will provide a list of approved pre-order tag allocations for each State based on total tag order purchased from Contractor. Territory, Tribe, and State Animal Health Officials (SAHOs) will be authorized to place tag delivery requests directly to the Contractor in accordance with the delivery order. APHIS-approved tag pre-delivery allocations.

2.3 Quality Control

Contractors shall have quality control measures in place as outlined in OAIDS. Contractors must be able to clearly demonstrate the manufacturer’s ability to consistently adhere to contract specifications and contract delivery requirements.

Upon contract awarded, the Contractor must maintain Quality Assurance records for each order including the number, type, and dates of quality assurance checks performed, any quality control issues that arose, and actions taken to correct deficiencies. Failure to provide these QA records upon request may be grounds for rejection of an entire order.

2.4 Printing

Tags must meet current AIN compliant device standards and the following additional requirements:

At a minimum, contractors must have the ability to print tags in the colors white and orange. Additional colors may be requested by USDA as need arises, and orders will be based on contractors that are able to supply the required colored tags.

The Contractor shall provide written certification that the device being offered is a currently approved AIN device and further that the device meets the same standards and specifications of its initial approval and meets current device standards. The certification must also include the AIN product number, species certification, and the Manufacturer’s Product name/Number; (example… AIN 0002, approved for use with Cattle, Bison, Deer & Elk, 4 Star button tag).

2.5 Packaging

Male and female tag pairs must be packaged in holding trays. The trays will then be placed in a bag containing 100 tags per bag. Contractor will affix the 13-digit National Stock Number (NSN) Z888-00- HDX-RFID to each outer bag.

In addition, each bag containing 100 RFID females and 100 males will have a 7-digit character sequence (3 alpha and 4 numeric) affixed to the bag.

The sequence range of bags will be AAD 0001 to ZZZ 9999. The female RFID tags contained in the bags must have the Animal Identification Numbers in a sequential range and placed in a holding tray (i.e.

8400000000000001 to 8400000000000020 in bag AAC0001).

Tags must be packaged to maintain the tags in sequential order. Two-piece tags that have the official identification number imprinted on both pieces must be packaged in containers or trays so that the two pieces with matching AINs are maintained as a pair until they are applied.

2.6 Additional Administration Requirements

All tag distribution records must be reported to the Animal Identification Number Management System (AIMS) by the Contractor as outlined in OAIDS and 9 CFR Part 86.

2.7 Delivery

Tag delivery requests Upon Delivery order award, Territory, Tribe, and State Animal Health Officials will place tag delivery requests for the Animal Disease Traceability tag program by contacting APHIS. APHIS staff will provide the Contractor with a list detailing tag allowances for each State based on these pre-delivery request. SAHOs may then place tag requests up to the maximum quantity on each delivery order, directly with the Contractor through the tag request system of the Contractor’s choice. State Animal Health Officials placing tag requests must provide documentation of a PIN or LID to the address where tags will be shipped prior to ordering the tags from the manufacturer.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-86

The Contractor shall receive online delivery requests via a database of their choosing. The information the Contractor shall collect must include:

Upon receiving the tag request, the company shall validate the PIN or LID of the requested recipient via USDA's Animal Identification Number Management System (AIMS) or an equivalent PIN/LID allocator database (State, Tribal, or Territorial LIDs may require verification by the SAHO). The Contractor shall also verify that the tags are distributed in amounts according to the provisions outlined by APHIS staff based on pre-delivery requests. Any tag request not associated with a destination PIN/LID shall be directed to the respective State Animal Health Official office for issuance of a PIN/LID. Tag requests shall not be filled unless all the above data is collected and verified.

The Contractor will respond to tag requests from SAHOs and will track tag orders by maintaining a database/system that captures:

• Tag manufacturer/company name and PIN (may also be known as NPN, or non-producer participant number)

• Requesting State, Tribe, Territory, or Area Veterinarian in Charge Office Name

• Recipient contact name

• Recipient shipping address

• Recipient PIN or LID (and associated address, if not the same as the shipping address)

• Recipient contact information (telephone number/email)

• Number of tags requested and date of request

• Number of tags shipped

• AIN numbers and case numbers of the tags shipped

• Confirmation of shipment date, delivery date, and receipt of tags by producer

APHIS will provide the Contractor with a tag allocation for each State based on the number of tags purchased to ensure equitable tag distribution. The Contractor shall ensure that tag amounts distributed as part of each State’s share of tags is in accordance with an APHIS-provided pre-order list. See Appendix A for a diagram of the tag pre-delivery request, allocation, and tag request fulfillment process.

Tags will be shipped to addresses provided and verified to be associated with the correct PIN/LID by the tag manufacturer. The minimum delivery order will be 1,000 tags.

Tags should be shipped within 30 business days of receipt of a tag request. If the Contractor is unable to ship tags withing 30 business days of receipt of the tag request, Contractor must notify APHIS in writing of the reason for the delay and an expected shipment date. Invoices from the contractor must accurately reflect the tags once delivery is verified.

Invoicing/Reporting requirements:

The Government will make payment in accordance with clause 52.212-4(i) and the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3902). The Contractor must invoice only for actual quantities ordered by stakeholders/producers and successfully delivered to stakeholders/producers. Payment is contingent upon successful delivery confirmation and compliance with all contract requirements, terms and conditions.

USDA uses the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for electronic submission and tracking of purchase orders, invoices, and payment information to its suppliers of goods and services: Enroll at https://ipp.gov. The IPP is a government-wide secure web-based invoice processing service offered free of charge to government agencies and their suppliers by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Management Service (FMS).

The Contractor will provide copies of invoices to the COR and Technical Point of Contact monthly, along with records of requests and shipments as detailed above including the tag tracking report, showing all the tags shipped with all the tracking information noted.

Tag Requirements

See USDA ADT guidelines for official ear tag requirements here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/traceability https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/animal-id-device-standards.pdf

ADMINISTRATION

Placing Orders

The Contractor must provide tags under this contract as ordered in accordance with FAR 52.216- 18 Ordering and FAR 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity. Supplies will be ordered on an as needed basis based on quantities estimated at the time of the order.

https://ipp.gov/ http://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/traceability http://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/traceability http://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/animal-id-device-standards.pdf http://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/animal-id-device-standards.pdf

Each delivery order issued will include:

(i) Date of order

(ii) Contract number and order number.

(iii) Contract item number and description, quantity, and unit price

(iv) Delivery or performance period

(v) Place of delivery or performance (including consignee), if known, see below

a. Packaging, packing, and shipping instructions if any

1. A c c o u n t i n g and appropriation data

11. M e t h o d of payment and payment office, if not specified in the contract

1. Any other pertinent information.

Security

If the contractor has access to the USDA, APHIS Animal Identification Number Management System (AIMS), the contractor may be required to complete USDA IT security training. All contractor employees with access to the USDA network may be required to complete the training and any other security information systems mandated training including reading, acknowledging understanding of, and abiding by the IT Security Rules of Behavior as a requirement of this contract. This applies to any new hires as well as current contractor employees.

All applicable contractor employees requiring routine access to Federally controlled information systems must go through the identity proofing, registration, and E-Verify process, and have a successful background investigation conducted by OPM. The level of investigation required is dependent on the access required and will be determined by APHIS personnel.

In accordance with the USDA regulations, a Background Investigation may be required prior to starting work under this contract as well as maintaining it throughout the duration of the contract. The government shall have and exercise full and complete control over granting, denying, withholding, or terminating the clearance for employees. Noncompliance with the IT security rules of behavior or the Privacy Act may result in termination of clearance, termination of the contract, fines and/or criminal penalties as provided in the Privacy Act depending on the severity of the noncompliance.

Contractors shall comply with the personal identity verification (PIV) policies and procedures established by the AGAR Advisory No. 81, Revision 03 dated July 19, 2010- Common Identification Standard for Contractors. In addition, procedures to be followed by contractors and contractor employees are specified in the Departmental Regulation and Departmental

Manual (DM) 4620-002. Copies can be downloaded from the website at http://hspd12.usda.gov

The Contractor shall take full responsibility to ensure that prime and subcontractor employees who require access to federally controlled information systems complete and submit the proper paperwork.

3.0 Contract Administration

3.1 Delivery Order

Delivery orders will be issued against this contract on a firm fixed price basis. Orders may be placed by a warranted USDA contracting officer through email.

3.2 Fair Opportunity Process for Placing Orders

Delivery orders will be competitively awarded based on price and favorable past performance. The Government reserves the right to award an order non-competitively based on proper justification identifying field performance/preference and cost considerations.

USDA may set orders aside for small business in accordance with FAR 52.219-13 and in the best interest of USDA.

The following procedures will be followed in issuing orders under multiple award contracts. Awardees will be provided with a fair opportunity to be considered for each task order exceeding the micro-purchase threshold of $15,000 unless a statutory exception applies, as described in this section and FAR 16.507-3, Ordering (listed in paragraph c below).

The value of an order is considered the total anticipated value based on all known pricing listed in the price schedule. Individual orders shall clearly describe all supplies (tags/applicators) to be delivered.

Orders shall be within the scope, issued within the period of performance, and be within the maximum value of the contract.

http://hspd12.usda.gov/

a. Orders valued between $15,000 and $350,000

For task orders valued within this range, the contracting officer is not required to contact each of the multiple awardees before selecting an order awardee if the contracting officer has information available to ensure that each awardee is provided with a fair opportunity to be considered for each order (FAR 16.507-3).

The contracting officer will consider the following information:

(1) Firm fixed prices established in the Pricing Schedule

(2) Past performance on earlier orders under the contract, including quality and timeliness.

(3) Potential impact on other orders placed with the contractor (max delivery capability);

(4) Other considerations as appropriate (i.e. minimum order requirements, proposed discounts to fixed unit prices established in the Pricing Schedule).

b. Orders valued in excess of $350,000 up to $7,500,000

Each order exceeding $350,000 shall be placed on a competitive basis unless an exception applies. The contracting officer will provide fair notice of the intent to make a purchase, including a clear description of the tags required and delivery timeframe and the basis upon which the selection will be made to all IDIQ awardees.

All IDIQ awardees will be afforded a fair opportunity to submit an offer and have that offer fairly considered.

The contracting officer will consider the following information:

(1) Firm fixed prices established in the Pricing Schedule, including proposed discounts to fixed unit prices.

(2) Past performance on earlier orders under the contract, including quality and timeliness

(3) Potential impact on other orders placed with the contractor (max delivery capability)

(4) Other considerations as appropriate (i.e. minimum order requirements)

Exceptions to the fair opportunity process are stated in FAR 16.507-6

All Delivery Orders will be issued via email by a warranted Contracting Officer or a USDA P-Card holder.

3.3 Ordering Authority

Orders under the micro-purchase threshold may be placed by a USDA warranted P-Card holder up to their limit. Orders placed by a P-Card holder must be paid with their P-Card and notice of the award must be provided to the Contracting Specialist.

USDA APHIS Contracting Officers may place orders up to their warrant and within the limits of the contract Min/Max as established in the contract clauses. Orders placed by Contracting Officer shall follow the fair opportunity ordering process detailed in section 3.2 above.

3.5 Invoicing

USDA uses the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for electronic submission and tracking of purchase orders, invoices, and payment information to its suppliers of goods and services: Enroll at https://ipp.gov. The IPP is a government-wide secure web-based invoice processing service offered free of charge to government agencies and their suppliers by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Management Service (FMS).

Contractors must submit invoices in IPP.gov and provide a copy of the invoice with supporting documentation to the COR. The IPP Approver will review the supporting documents before approving invoices in IPP, if supporting documentation is not provided the invoice will be rejected. IPP will issue a notification to contractor that they must submit supporting documentation and resubmit the invoice. See FAR 52.232-33.

Invoicing for orders placed by P-Card holder, please see FAR 52.232-

36. The same supporting documentation and invoice stated above will be required by the P-Card Holder.

4.0 Points of Contact

Contracting:

Jason Wilking Contracting Specialist Office:

Email: jason.L.wilking@usda.gov https://ipp.gov/ mailto:jason.L.wilking@usda.gov

Contracting Officers Representative (COR):

Douglas Jupe USDA APHIS VS Strategy & Policy Email: Douglas.Jupe@usda.gov

Technical Point of Contract:

Dr. Eric Coleman VS Director USDA APHIS VS NADT VACVS Strategy & Policy Email: Eric.S.Coleman@usda.gov

The COR is responsible for monitoring the performance of work under this contract and is the local Government contact. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of the contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless advance authorization is received from the Contracting Officer, and proper contractual documents executed by the Contracting Officer prior to performing the work

The COR shall inform the contracting Officer as soon as possible of any understandings, tentative agreements, recommended modifications, and actions or inactions of the Contractor or the Government which could impact the Contractor's ability to comply with the contract’s performance requirements or completion times.

Whenever, in the opinion of the Contractor, the COR requests effort outside the scope of the contract, the Contractor shall so advise the COR. If the COR persists and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the Contracting Officer shall be notified immediately. PROCEEDING WITH WORK WITHOUT PROPER

CONTRACTUAL COVERAGE AND APPROVAL OF THE CO COULD RESULT

IN A BREACH OF CONTRACT AND NONPAYMENT.

The designation (delegation of authority) is provided in writing to the COR and is available to the Contractor. The delegation of authority clearly explains the CORs roles and responsibilities on the contract and limitations of authority.

Appendix A

Below is a simplified outline of the tag allocation and distribution process:

Step 1: Contract is awarded for purchase of tags.

mailto:Douglas.Jupe@usda.gov mailto:Eric.S.Coleman@usda.gov

Step 2: APHIS Animal Disease Traceability staff will tabulate State allocations and solicit pre-orders of tags from each State/ Tribe/ Territory.

Step 3: ADT staff receive pre-tag requests from States and create a list of approved tag order amounts for each State to ensure equitable tag distribution, communicating approved requests amounts to respective State Animal Health Officials (SAHOs).

Step 4: ADT staff provide Contractor with an approved list of tag allocations for each State based on pre-tag requests process.

Step 5: ADT will submit a delivery order request to the contracting officer. A contracting officer will issue a tag delivery order against the contract for the number of tags requested.

Step 6: SAHOs may place tag delivery requests against the delivery order to the contractor in amounts in accordance with APHIS-approved allocations. SAHOs will provide PIN/LID when requesting tag delivery.

Step 7: Contractor receives and fulfills tag delivery requests from SAHOs, ensuring that each State receives tags in accordance with APHIS-approved allocations. Contractor is responsible for validating PIN/LID associated with each order.