Gate Control Feed System for the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center (DFRC)

SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION FOR CALAN GATES SYSTEM – DAIRY FORAGE RESEARCH CENTER (DFRC) AT PRAIRIE du SAC, WI

INTRODUCTION

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District is issuing the sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify potential sources having an interest and industry technologies available to provide a gate feeding system for dairy cattle that allows researchers to prescribe, control, and document the feed intake of individual animals within a common trial pen.  This technology will be incorporated into the Dairy Forage Research Center (DFRC) at Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.

Based on the responses to the sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may include updates to the specifications regarding the feeding system or, if justified by market research, a brand name/sole source Justification and Approval. USACE intends to issue one construction contract to build the DFRC based on the provided specifications and drawing sheets. The solicitation, W9128F25R0014, allows for full and open competition. The magnitude of construction is expected to range between $25,000,000 and $100,000,000.

The sources sought is specific to controlled, gate feeding system required for this project.

NOTE: The current design uses the Calan Gate Feeding System for the requirement. This is a supplementary market research effort conducted by the Army to verify this specific project requirement.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The US Dairy Forage Research Center is located on an approximately 75-acre site on the recently acquired Badger Army Ammunition Plant (BAAP) in Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin. The Center includes 18 buildings and support structures interconnected by manure collection, transport, and digester system; the approximate combined gross square footage of construction is 642,000 Gross Square Foot (GSF). Construction of approximately 254,003 Building Gross Square Foot (BGSF) of new production, research, operations, and maintenance facilities and supporting infrastructure. Most of the center's construction will be comprised of pre-framed, pre-engineered metal buildings supported on concrete spread footings with the exception of the Lab and Administration Building which will have a laminated wood building structure supported on spread footings with preformed metal panel exterior enclosure.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Government requires a gate feeding system for dairy cattle that allows researchers to prescribe, control, and document the feed intake of individual animals within a common trial pen for this project.  The intent of this Sources Sought is to assess the state-of-the art of the technology available for these products that could be applied to meet this requirement.

Non-Developmental Item. The feeding system should be a non-developmental item to the maximum extent possible.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for the overall project is 236220 with a Small Business Size Standard of $45M The Product Service Code (PSC) is Y1HB.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than one to three pages (8.5 X 11 inch), font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to provide the products/systems listed in this Technical Description. Documentation should be in bullet format. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of the RFP will be accepted prior to its release.

Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Nicole Parker and Contract Officer, Jeffrey Wyant in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email nicole.l.parker@usace.army.mil and Jeffrey.w.wyant@usace.army.mil no later than 12:00 p.m. Central Time on 3 March 2025 and reference this synopsis number in subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required products/systems, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, web site address, telephone number, and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability.

All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.