Attachment 1 Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW)

Dairy Nutritionist Service Contract

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National

Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa has a need for a base plus 4 option year

Service Contract for a Dairy Nutritionist. Contractor shall provide nutritional guidance and Total Mixed Ration (TMR) Diet formulation for nutritional support for the USDA National Center for Animal Health (NCAH) and NADC herd to meet goals as established by the NCAH research and animal care staff for a herd comprised of 20-50 head of Lactating Dairy cows and 50-150 head of a combination of Dry Dairy and Beef cows.

2.0 Background. The mission of the USDA National Animal Disease Center (NADC)

Animal Resources Unit in Ames, IA is to provide animal care and support services for internal users that rely on animals and animal products for research, testing and training. A contractor is required to provide nutritional guidance for nutritional support for the USDA Dairy herd.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks. The Contractor shall be required to perform the following specific tasks and work.

3.1 Contractor to provide Balanced diet formulation* for lactating and dry cattle based on:

3.1.1 NADC supplied feed components (feed test results/guaranteed analysis provided by NADC)

3.1.2 visual appraisal/evaluation of cow condition

3.1.3 milk production, somatic cell count, components records/results, etc.

(as available)

3.1.4 feed intake records (as available)

3.1.4.1 Diet reformulation may be required for (but not limited to) the following:

3.1.4.1.1 Change in or required change need in animal

condition

3.1.4.1.2 Change in nutritional content of feed available

3.1.4.1.3 Change in pasture availability

3.1.4.1.4 Weather/season nutritional adjustment

3.1.4.1.5 Production and/or growth stage of animals

3.1.4.1.6 Requirements of research need

3.2 Contractor to provide guidance and recommendations for health issues related to nutrition as requested by NCAH Farm Manager, ARU Veterinarians, or

Animal Caretaker Supervisor (Dairy).

3.3 Contractor to conduct in-person visit bi-monthly to be scheduled within the same time frame each month and to include:

3.3.1 Re-evaluation of the current diets

3.3.2 Visual appraisal of condition of cows for feed adjustments

3.3.3 Visual inspection of feed components

3.3.4 Review of any records as needed/available

3.3.5 Adjustments to feed rations as needed. May be as high as 36 per year

(typically 8-12 times per year)

3.3.6 Provide guidance and recommendations for health issues related to nutrition.

3.3.7 Meet with Farm Manager and/or Dairy Caretaker Supervisor (or designee) to review adjustments and findings

3.3.8 Meet with Research Staff during visit as requested.

3.3.9 Meet with animal care staff for educational purposes to explain nutritional principles (not to exceed two times per year)

3.3.10 Provide written report of cattle observations, recommendations, activities conducted, and feed ration adjustments within 5 business days of visit.

4.0 Government Furnished. NADC will provide Nutritionist with forage analysis for hay and silage to be used in TMR diets.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule.

Item

No.

Deliverable/

Item Title Description

Delivery

Format Due By

Balanced diet formulation Section 3.1

In writing

Within 3 days of requested change or new information prompting a ration change need (i.e forage test results)

2 Bi-Monthly visit Section 3.3 In-person

Visit are recommend to be set up in January, March, May, July, September and

November

Bi-Monthly visit report Section 3.3.10 Written

Within 5 working days of in-person visit.

6.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel. The Contractor shall be required to supply a Dairy

Nutritionist that meets the following minimum requirements:

6.1 Education level of Bachelor of Science with emphasis in Dairy Nutrition.

6.2 Ten (10) years of direct full-time experience managing commercial Dairy nutritional programs.

6.3 Provide references from three (3) commercial dairies that currently use the contractor’s services managing their nutritional program.

7.0 Quote Submission. Quotes submitted in response to this solicitation shall include a

Price Quote and a Technical Quote. The Government will evaluate quotes in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in Section 8.0 of this RFQ.

7.1 Offerors shall submit their quotes electronically via email to debora.wells@usda.gov. The following information shall be included:

7.1.1 Price (to include shipping)

7.1.2 Technical Specifications

7.1.2.1 Education level of Bachelor of Science with emphasis in Dairy

Nutrition.

7.1.2.2 Ten (10) years of direct full-time experience managing commercial Dairy nutritional programs.

7.1.2.3 Provide references from three (3) commercial dairies that currently use the contractor’s services managing their nutritional program.

7.1.3 Completed copy of FAR Provision 52.212-3.

7.2 Offerors are responsible for ensuring and verifying their offer and all required quote documents are received by the date designated in block 8 of the SF-

1449.

8.0 Evaluation Factors.

8.1 Factor 1 – Price. This is a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for the non-cost factors. The lowest priced quote will first be evaluated for technical acceptability. If determined not technically acceptable, it will be removed from competition and the next lowest priced quote will be evaluated for technical acceptability. This will continue until the lowest price quote is determined technically acceptable. Once the lowest priced quote is determined technically acceptable, then a determination of responsibility will be completed. If found responsible, evaluations will be closed and award will be made.

8.2 Factor 2 – Technical. Offerors technical quote shall include all documents at the time of submission. The absence of such evidence will adversely influence the evaluation of the quote. All documents shall be submitted in accordance with 10 pages maximum, Page Size: 8½” x 11” and size 12 font.

8.2.1 Education level of Bachelor of Science with emphasis in Dairy

Nutrition. Offeror shall provide documentation of degree to include date received and College/University attended.

8.2.2 Experience. Offeror shall provide resume documenting ten (10) years of direct full-time experience managing commercial Dairy nutritional programs.

mailto:debora.wells@usda.gov

8.2.3 References. Offeror shall provide references from three (3) commercial dairies that currently use the contractor’s services managing their nutritional program.

9.0 Basis For Award. Award of the contract resulting from this solicitation will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of quotes meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors. The offeror must be responsible, as defined by FAR 9.104-1. Responsible includes, but is not limited to, satisfactory past performance, being registered and current in the System for Award

Management (www.sam.gov), being a Small Business, not being debarred or suspended from doing business with the Federal Government, and other factors.

NOTE: The Government intends to award a contract based on initial offers received, without discussion of such offers. Accordingly, each initial offer should be submitted in the most favorable terms, from a price and technical standpoint, which the offeror can provide to the Government.

10.0 Place of Performance. USDA, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010

11.0 Period of Performance. The Period of Performance for this contract is estimated and will adjust based on date of award.

Base Year 15 March 2024 – 14 March 2025

Option Year 1 15 March 2025 – 14 March 2026

Option Year 2 15 March 2026 – 14 March 2027

Option Year 3 15 March 2027 – 14 March 2028

Option Year 4 15 March 2028 – 14 March 2029