Solicitation FY263142053 QA tires.pdf

Solicitation FY263142053 (Forestry Tires)

• The solicitation specifies "Agro Alliance 420/85-28 Forestry OPFRM" and "Agro Alliance 520/85-38 Forestry OPFRM" tires. The solicitation also states offerors shall "meet or exceed specifications." Will the Government consider equivalent tires from the Alliance 333 Agro Forestry line (same manufacturer, same size, same or greater load rating and tread depth) if the specific "OPFRM" model designation is unavailable through current distributor channels?

Yes. Please include any spec sheets, brochures, ,etc. with your offer.

• Alliance tires are manufactured in Israel and India. Please confirm whether tires manufactured in either country are acceptable under FAR 52.225-3.

Under FAR 52.225‑3 (Buy American–Free Trade Agreements–Israeli Trade Act):

Tires Made in Israel

Israel is explicitly listed under the Israeli Trade Act as a designated country, meaning products from Israel qualify as a qualifying end product under the clause 12.

Therefore, tires manufactured in Israel are acceptable under FAR 52.225‑3.

Tires Made in India

India is not included among the Free Trade Agreement or Israeli Trade Act countries covered by FAR 52.225‑3 3.

Consequently, tires from India do not qualify as acceptable under this clause.The IBWC can freely accept Israel‑made Alliance tires under FAR 52.225‑3. However, India‑made tires are not authorized under this clause and would be treated as non‑qualifying foreign products.

• Please confirm delivery is FOB Destination to the Mercedes Field Office and that standard LTL freight (palletized) is acceptable for CLIN 003.

FOB Destination. LTL freight is acceptable.

• Please clarify the minimum warranty period required, or confirm the manufacturer's standard warranty is acceptable.

Standard warranty is acceptable. Please provide a copy with offer.

• What is the required delivery date or delivery window (e.g., days after receipt of order) once the contract is awarded?

As soon as possible

• Technical acceptability is based on products that meet or exceed the specifications of the named Agro Alliance tires. If the product offered is a foreign end product from a country not covered by the Buy American–Free Trade Agreements–Israeli Trade Act clause, will the offer still be evaluated, or has a domestic/designated-country source already been determined to be required for this item?

Yes, but under FAR Part 25 and DFARS Subpart 225.5, foreign offers from non‑designated countries are subject to evaluated preference rules:

First, if a domestic offer exists and is lower-priced (after applying any evaluation factor), that offer must be accepted.

Second, if no domestic offer exists, an offer from a qualifying (designated) country may be awarded if lowest.

Third, if the lowest offer is from a non‑designated foreign country, the government applies a 50% evaluation factor, effectively increasing its bid price by 50% for comparison purposes.

https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/subpart-225.5-evaluating-foreign-offers%E2%80%94supply-contracts https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/chapter-2/subchapter-D/part-225/subpart-225.5

• What warranty terms are expected with the quote? Is stating the manufacturer's standard warranty sufficient, or is a minimum warranty period required?

Standard warranty is sufficient

• Is the freight line item (CLIN 0003) a fixed allowance regardless of actual carrier cost, or should we price actual estimated freight to the Mercedes, TX delivery address? Is delivery FOB Origin or FOB Destination?

Price the estimated freight to Mercedes Texas. FOB Destination.

• Could you please advise how soon the tires will be needed once a bid has been awarded? These are specialized forestry tires, and some sizes may need to be sourced from suppliers in other states, which could impact delivery timelines.

As soon as possible https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/subpart-225.5-evaluating-foreign-offers%E2%80%94supply-contracts https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/subpart-225.5-evaluating-foreign-offers%E2%80%94supply-contracts https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/chapter-2/subchapter-D/part-225/subpart-225.5

• Additionally, would the USIBWC require all tires to be delivered at the same time, or would partial deliveries be acceptable as inventory becomes available, provided your operational needs are met?

Partial deliveries are acceptable