On-Line Marketing Services for CCC Owned Commodities

On-Line Marketing Services for Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Owned Commodities



Request for Information (RFI)



The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acquisition Management Division on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for the purpose of seeking information pertaining to a possible future procurement of on-line commodities marketing services in order to gain an understanding of the capabilities and qualifications that currently exist in the marketplace. CCC will carefully consider submitted information in developing its procurement strategy to obtain such services.



CCC is interested in obtaining services through an existing online marketing system only. CCCs objective is to identify businesses that have such existing online marketing systems. Note: The government has no interest in developing, purchasing or renting any such systems, computer hardware, or software.



CCCs definition of commodities for purposes of this RFI includes wheat, feed grains (barley, corn, grain sorghum, oats, rice, and soybeans), pulse crops (dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas, large chickpeas) other oilseeds (canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower), cotton, peanuts, sugar, and dairy products (nonfat dry milk, butter and cheese).



Information desired at this time:

1. Vendor Profile and Capabilities:

Provide a corporate capabilities statement, with sufficient information that demonstrates an ability to fulfill the requirements described in this RFI. Based on the market research performed by government, the following functions may be applicable to this RFI.

2. Functionality of the proposed on-line marketing system:

2.1 Online access for up to fifteen 15 CCC personnel normally engaged in merchandising

commodities;

2.2 Availability of services at least 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday during normal

business hours.

2.3 Pricing considerations with preferred negotiated fixed-price bid sales;

2.4 Help desk assistance to the users;

2.5 Inventory sales data in an electronic format;

2.6 A daily and cumulative summary of data on actual sales activities, with a variety of

sort options, including reports by commodity for a particular date, month, fiscal year,

calendar year, or date range shall include but not be limited to sales date, sales price, net

quantity, name of buyer, etcetera. CCC may choose to make this information available to

the public. A downloadable spreadsheet format, such as Microsoft Excel, that contains

the information is acceptable.

2.7 Guaranteed sales transactions, so that CCC shall not be subject to losses incurred

due to the failure of any subsequent transaction.

3. Contact Information:

3.1 Provide company name, address, program management and technical points of

contact relevant to this RFI with name, phone number and e-mail address.

4. General Comments:

Responses to this RFI shall be sent per the instructions below to be received on or before 3:00 PM, February 20, 2009. Acknowledgement of receipt of information will not be made nor will telephone inquiries be honored. Submissions received after the response deadline may be reviewed but may not be considered in contract planning or in the creation of a solicitation. All respondents shall be added to the list of potential offerors and receive resulting Request for Proposals (RFP), if such RFP is issued.

Instructions for responses: All responses and information must be in written format (MS Word or Adobe Acrobat, font size must be no smaller than 10 point font) and transmitted electronically to both the Contracting Officer and the Contractor Support Staff listed in this RFI. Submission of proprietary information is not desired. E-mail subject title to be used for responses is Vendor On-Line Marketing of CCC Commodities RFI Response. Based on the written results of this RFI, if funding is available and USDA/CCC deems that sources are available to proceed with on-line marketing of CCC owned commodities, the government may develop an acquisition strategy and may submit a follow-on announcement in FEDBIZOPPS requesting formal proposals. Potential offerors are encouraged to provide GSA Federal Supply Schedule information, if available



Contracting Office Address:

1280 Maryland Avenue, SW

Suite 580-A

Washington, DC 20024



Contracting Officer:

Jewel Lee

jewel.lee@wdc.usda.gov

Phone: (202) 205-9471



Contractor Support:

Rodney Nelson

rodney.nelson@wdc.usda.gov

Phone: (202) 205-8961



Failure to respond to the RFI does not preclude participation in any future competition for this requirement, nor will information provided in response to this RFI be used to exclude anyone from responding to any future Request for Proposals.



THIS RFI IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 15.201(E), RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE ARE NOT OFFERS AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. RESPONDENTS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING TO THIS RFI. RESPONSES TO THIS RFI WILL NOT BE RETURNED. RESPONDENTS WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED OF THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THIS RFI.