NOTICE OF INTENT to AWARD ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS - Ten double disc drill openers with packing wheels manufactured that are compatible (bolt-on ready) with AgPro Inc. drill opener down pressure system

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service Pacific West Area has published a Notice of Intent to award a sole source contract to AGPRO Marketing and Manufacturing, Inc. for ten specialized double disc drill openers with packing wheels. The procurement, valued at an estimated $38,000, involves highly specific agricultural equipment that must be compatible with AgPro Inc.'s proprietary hydraulic down pressure control systems already integrated with the agency's grain drill. The contract will be processed under FAR Parts 12 and 13 as a Firm Fixed Price purchase order, with NAICS code 333111 (Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing). The performance period is estimated from September 29, 2025, through December 29, 2025. This notice serves as an informational announcement rather than a formal solicitation for proposals or quotations.

The primary purpose of this notice is to determine whether competitive procurement is warranted, though the agency intends to proceed with sole source justification based on the proprietary nature of AgPro's technology and compatibility requirements. Potential vendors who believe they can provide equivalent services must submit substantiating documentation in writing within seven calendar days of the September 16, 2025 notice posting date, with responses due by September 30, 2025. Oral communications and telephone calls are not acceptable forms of response. The technical specifications are highly detailed, requiring 15-inch disc coulters, 4.5-inch Optico Farmflex packing wheels, stainless steel seed tubes, and precise bolt configurations that integrate seamlessly with existing AgPro equipment. Any contractor responding must demonstrate capability to manufacture equipment that meets these exacting specifications while maintaining compatibility with the agency's current AgPro drill opener down pressure system.