Paper Stock Cattle Backtags

Solicitation Number: AG-6395-S-15-0056
Sources Sought Notice

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) is requesting information regarding the availability of cattle backtags.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of issuing this sources sought notice is to seek information from vendors with the capability of providing either cattle backtags using a Just in Time (JIT) methodology. This method requires little or no stock of backtags needed to be maintained at the central warehouse. Production is initiated to fill an order at the time the order is placed with the contractor; the tags are produced and delivered in a rapid manner. The contractor shall be responsible for shipping backtags to as many as 1200 different markets across the United States within 48 hours after receipt of an order. The cattle backtags shall be made of a waterproof paper stock. The tags shall be white or yellow on the printed side. The tags shall be oval in shape. The contractor shall be responsible for maintaining a tracking system to record the alpha and numerical sequence of tags designated for each state.

CAPABILITIES
Please provide a description of your company's capability to supply these backtags including but not limited to:
A. Description of JIT system;
B. Reporting capabilities
C. Estimated pricing

This is not a request for proposals, but instead market research to determine interested vendors prior to issuing a solicitation. Pricing information provided is for estimation purposes only. A determination by the Government on the method of competing this requirement has not been established. The Government will not award a contract based on this Sources Sought Notice or the information received, nor will it reimburse participants for the information they provide. If you are an interested vendor, please provide the following information: 1) Business name and point of contact; 2) DUNS number and CAGE code; 3) business size; and 4) a brief statement of Capability (no more than three pages) which demonstrates the ability to meet the specialized work requirements above. Include any past performance information on contracts of similar size and scope. Electronic responses are preferred. Information provided will not be used as a part of any subsequent solicitation requirement. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses are due no later than 12 p.m., Central Time, on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, to the attention of Leah Schultz, Contract Specialist, via e-mail to leah.h.schultz@aphis.usda.gov.