USDA-FAS MRL Database RFI 12.17.24.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture MRL Database

Request for Information

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.

The purpose of this request for information is to improve future solicitations by inviting comments, suggestions, and questions concerning to the government’s interest in maintaining a resource for maximum levels (ML) or maximum residue levels (MRLs) of agricultural chemicals, veterinary drugs, and contaminants, which can be easily and regularly referenced by federal agencies and agriculture exporters to determine the applicable MRL/ML for a particular product in a particular market. 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 code) 541611, 541620, 541690 and 541715.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), is seeking information from qualified source(s) or other knowledgeable parties for one or more firm-fixed price performance-based service contract(s) for parties to perform all the functions required for establishment and maintenance of this database including the content stored therein. FAS highlights that this is not anticipated to be an information technology contract; the component of the anticipated contract related to database management is relatively minor, compared to the component related to keeping current the information housed in the database.

Background The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, requests information and feedback on a potential acquisition of support services related to recording and making available maximum levels and maximum residue levels for specialty crops worldwide. A draft statement of work (SOW) is attached for reference.

Generally, there are two separate technical competencies required for this non-severable activity.

One is the technological ability to establish and maintain a database that contains the necessary information, which is accessible and user-friendly via the internet. The other requires ongoing monitoring, through a variety of means, of regulatory action regarding maximum residue levels for pesticides, fertilizers, veterinary drugs, contaminants, and other chemicals, related to trade of agricultural products worldwide. The number of markets, each of which may use a different regulatory framework, multiplied by the number of chemicals, multiplied by the number of crops, creates a vast number of entries, each of which could change at any time, with or without clear notification.

Information Sought Respondents are requested to reply to all of the prompts below, including indicating “no response” if applicable. A response is requested by January 17, 2025.

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

2. Indicate the requirements that the government should consider in defining the scope of such a platform. With regards to the draft Scope of Work attached, indicate whether any essential elements are missing or unclear.

3. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience in developing, supporting, and maintaining web-based database applications, to include compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

4. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities and experience related to understanding, interpreting, and recording MRLs for agricultural products.

5. Indicate how much time would be required, after notification of award or selection, to fully provide the services described.

6. Explain/describe the respondent’s capabilities to monitor in real time changes to MRLs for at least 1000 [chemical] products, on at least 900 agricultural commodities, in at least 150 global markets; not every chemical is used for each product, and vice versa, so there are upwards of 1,000 agricultural products and 1,000 chemicals, residuals, or other possible contaminants for which standards are set, including those not used in the United States.

7. Explain/describe the capabilities to group, sort, and/or search for MRLs that do not align with established U.S. and or Codex standards.

8. Indicate whether the respondent is eligible under any SBA-administered programs, participating in any appropriate government-wide contracts, or otherwise eligible for preferential selection pursuant to 48 CFR Parts 8 and/or 19.