Jofoc

Added: Nov 29, 2012 3:46 pm The US Department of Interior, through its Franchise Fund activity, Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), intends to award a contract to DataScape, LLC, on behalf of the US Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency (RMA). This award is intended to be done on a non-competitive basis for the purpose of updating the Nursery Eligible Plant List and Plant Price Schedule (EPLPPS) and Associated Software For the 2015 - 2019 Crop Years. The action is made in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." This acquisition will be made under FAR Parts 12 and 15.

The Risk Management Agency's (RMA) Nursery Crop Insurance Program provides crop insurance coverage to wholesale nurseries for field grown and container grown nursery plants. The key component of the nursery program is the Eligible Plant List and Plant Price Schedule (EPLPPS), which lists each insurable plant and its assigned plant type, its insurable sizes, its insurability requirements, and the maximum insurable price for each size. The EPLPPS was developed and first issued by RMA in 1997 (for the 1999 Crop Year). It is RMA's responsibility to ensure the EPLPPS database is updated annually for each succeeding crop year with new insurable plants and prices, and additional plant prices for existing plants. Other changes are made as needed to insurability requirements, information, and instructions contained in the EPLPPS.

The EPLPPS database lists all field grown and container grown wholesale nursery plants, which are insurable under the Nursery Crop Insurance Program. The EPLPPS is issued as eight separate books (PDF Books), with each book specifying insurable plants for one or more states. The EPLPPS lists base prices for each plant type and measurement method(s) insured under the type. A plant factor is listed for each applicable measurement method for each plant and is used to establish the maximum insurable price of the plant. The EPLPPS also specifies hardiness zone limitations for all listed plants and storage protection requirements for container grown plants.

Three different software packages are used in conjunction with the EPLPPS. The Regional Office (RO) Plant Selection Software is used by RMA ROs to assist in updating the EPLPPS each crop year. The RMA ROs use this software twice each crop year to review current EPLPPS specifications and to change specifications if needed. The Inventory Software is used by crop insurance agents and insureds to determine plant insurability and the value of insurable plants in the nursery based on the EPLPPS. And finally, the Appraisal Software is used by loss adjusters to aid in the settlement of claims on losses incurred based on insurable plants in the nursery and prices in the EPLPPS.

DataScape has a unique set of skills to accomplish this task, as they were the developers of the original software and database for this program. DataScape retains rights to the data and the software necessary for the continued implementation, upgrades, and maintenance of this program.



THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO AWARD THIS REQUIREMENT NONCOMPETITIVELY IAW FAR 6.302-1.

The relevant NAICS Code is 541519, and the relevant PSC is D399.

The anticipated award date of the contract is 01/17/2013. A vendor must be registered at http://www.sam.gov to be awarded the contract.

Contractors who believe they are capable of meeting the performance requirements should contact the Contracting Officer by electronic mail at James_Tessitore@nbc.gov by 12 PM (ET), 7 December 2012.