Notice of Intent to Sole Source Dairy Calves

This special notice is in accordance with FAR 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Action. This is a notice of intent to make a sole source award and is not a solicitation or request for competitive quotes.

This award will be made utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with: Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-2)(1) For purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The requirements at 13.501(a) apply to sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa has a need for 12 Dairy Calves at 2 months of age.

USDA-ARS MWA Procurement Office in Peoria, IL intends to make a firm fixed price sole source award under the authority 13.106-2)(1), only one responsible source, to:

Superior Livestock, Inc

3911 Cardinal Ave

Joice, IA  50446

The objective of this sole source award is to procure 12 Dairy Calves which meet the following specifications below.  For this project we require the following of the calves:

• Breed – must be Holstein or Holstein Cross breed calves.
• Age – 2 months of age at the time of delivery.  Date of Birth shall be verified prior to animal arrival by Technical Point of Contact. 
• Males shall be castrated and dehorned (healed) prior to arrival.
• Females shall not be bred.
• Animals shall be conventionally raised.
• Calves shall come from a Tuberculosis Free herd.
• Calves shall demonstrate no signs of clinical illness.
• Calves shall have sound legs and good eyes.
• Calves shall be sourced from the same farm.
• Calves shall be sourced from a farm within 100 miles of Ames to limit transport time of the animals on the trailer.
• Calves shall be weaned prior to arrival to the National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH)
• Calves shall be transported directly to USDA-NCAH with no other animals in the trailer.
• 12 calves shall be available with comparable size across the group of the same breed
• Animals shall have NO Ring Worm – this shall be verified by Technical Point of Contact prior to animal arrival
• Animals shall have NO pink eye - this shall be verified by Technical Point of Contact prior to animal arrival
• A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required for all animals.
• Pre-Purchase blood will be requested from the time of award until the arrival of animals to check for Influenza A virus antibody and they must be virus free.
• Communication with any possible vendor from the time of solicitation to the arrival of animals must be had between Technical Point of Contact in Ames and the possible vendor.  This communication may include group or individual animal health status, pre-purchase blood work results, housing and feeding information that could be subject to change within this time frame. 
• The Technical Point of Contact and the funding unit may exclude calves prior to arrival that do not meet the SOW requirements. 
• To obtain 12 animals that meet the SOW specifications; the vendor may need to obtain a group larger than 12 to allow for alternate animals to replace any that become sick or do not meet the health requirements.
• Animals shall be deliverable onsite in one delivery at USDA-NCAH no later than 5/31/2024.
• Transportation – preference is for vendor to include transportation in quote however this may be negotiable.   
• Qty: 12 calves

As such, purchase from Superior Livestock, Inc has been determined to be required as they are the only vendor available that meets all of the requirements outlined above.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 112111 (Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming) with a small business size standard of 2.500 Employees. The PSC code for this requirement is 8820 Live Animals, Not Raised for Food. NO solicitation or solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotations; however, interested vendors that regard themselves as capable of providing a product that can fulfill the requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement by NO later than Wednesday, May 8th  (05/08/2024) at 2:00PM (CT) to Debora Wells at debora.wells@usda.gov . NO phone calls will be accepted. The e-mail subject line shall include: 12505B24Q0168 Dairy Calves.

Any submission in response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence as well as be in sufficient enough detail to show that they can provide a product that would meet the Government’s need and that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement.

Again, this is NOT a request for competitive quotes. This notice is for informational purposes only. Responses received shall be considered by the agency; however, determination by the Government whether or not to compete this proposed award upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No reimbursement for any cost connected with providing capability information will be provided