MRL Quick Reference Sheets (QRS) RFI.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) Quick Reference Sheets

Request for Information (RFI)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), is seeking information from qualified source(s) or other knowledgeable parties for a firm-fixed price service contract for parties to perform all the functions required to provide up-to-date, comprehensive information on pesticide MRLs / import tolerances for crops exported from the United States to different international markets. FAS highlights that this is not anticipated to be an information technology contract; the component of the anticipated contract related to IT management is relatively minor, compared to the component related to producing the MRL Quick Reference Sheets using current information obtained from viable data sources.

1.0 Purpose

The USDA FAS, requests information and feedback on a potential acquisition of support services to produce and maintain crop-specific informational pesticide MRL Quick Reference Sheets for a variety of foreign markets worldwide.

The purpose of this request for information is to invite comments, suggestions, and questions concerning a proposed solicitation to produce and maintain a total of 60 crop-specific informational reference sheets with MRLs for various U.S. specialty crops (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.) with information on MRLs in the United States, and additional export markets. The sheets shall be disaggregated by active ingredient, include information on the class of product (herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, etc.), and include the trade names of the products used in the United States.

It is intended to gain knowledge of potential qualified facility size classifications (such as large business, small business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB Programs) relative to the North American Industry Classification (NAICS) codes 541690, 541715 and 323111.

Disclaimer This is a request for information. This RFI is issued for market research purposes only. It does not constitute a commitment by the government, nor is it a solicitation or request for offers.

Responses to the RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely the responding party’s expense.

2.0 Statement of Work

A draft statement of work (SOW) is attached for reference.

3.0 Acquisition Timeline

Although no acquisition strategy or timeline is being committed to in this RFI, a solicitation is anticipated to be released in FY 2024 Q3 with anticipated contract award in FY 2024 Q4.

4.0 Information Sought

Respondents are requested to provide a Capability Statement addressing the below areas. Please provide responses to all areas below as the Government intends to assess capability of respondents based on a review of the submissions.

4.1 Technical Capability Information Sought:

1. Identify any existing or established services that may meet the requirement and indicate how the government may have confidence that the requirements are met.

2. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience in developing and maintaining Pesticide MRL quick reference sheets, to include compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

3. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience related to toxicology and international pesticide maximum residue limit (MRL) regulatory standards.

4. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience related to working with United States domestic and international pesticide MRL data and or MRL regulatory systems, including Codex.

5. Explain/describe the capabilities to group, sort, and/or search for foreign government’s MRLs or import tolerances that do not align with established U.S.

and/or Codex standards.

6. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience related to working with agriculture and trade data sources (i.e., FAS Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS) and the U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Services’ Census of Agriculture) and Agricultural Chemical Use Survey.

7. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience related to understanding and interpreting MRL data for agricultural products.

8. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities to compile MRL information from a variety of sources to determine the status in a particular market.

4.2 Additional Procurement Information Sought:

1. The Government is considering using NAICS codes 541690, 541715 or 323111 for this procurement. Please provide feedback on the most appropriate NAICS code for this requirement.

2. Please provide comments on the attached draft SOW.

3. The Government is contemplating awarding this requirement as a firm-fixed-price contract. Please provide any feedback on the anticipated contract type.

4. Indicate the socioeconomic status of your firm i.e. WOSB, HubZone, SDVOSB, other than small business, etc.

5. Does your firm participate in any applicable government-wide acquisition contracts (GWAC) where this requirement can be procured? If so, please indicate the GWAC and contract number.

5.0 How to Respond

Please submit your response via email to Elizabeth.Lanum@usda.gov and Nnenna.Njoku@usda.gov with the subject line “FAS MRL Quick Reference Sheets RFI Response”.

6.0 Responses Due

A response is requested by Thursday, June 6, 2024, no later than 12:00pm ET.

mailto:Elizabeth.Lanum@usda.gov mailto:Nnenna.Njoku@usda.gov