Sample Collection and Microbial Analysis of FDA Priority Tree Fruit Commodities and Their Production Environments

FDA-NOI –1164936

Synopsis – Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This synopsis is hereby issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15 day notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce that the Food and Drug Administration’s intents to negotiate a Firm Fixed Price sole source contract with Pennsylvania State Fruit Research and Extension Center located at 290 University Dr., P.O. Box 330 Biglerville, PA 17307-0330.

The Government intends to negotiate solely with Pennsylvania State University per FAR 6.302-1, as no other source of supplies will satisfy agency requirements.

The FDA’s intent is to obtain a multiple year award (a minimum of 3 years) for environmental surveillance data on the incidence and prevalence of L. monocytogenes in stone and apple fruit production environments. Because the huge variation of weather from year to year, a single year of data would not be representative or reliable enough to be the basis of any public health policy decisions.

Pennsylvania State University has a long history of research, facilities and resources which includes a large scale orchard, including many different fruits, which is very unique for research. There are also nearby large fruit orchards that are representative of regular fruit production within the United States. Multiyear sampling of representative commercial orchards, fruit packing, and storage facilities is critical to determine if L. monocytogenes distribution within the orchards can be tied to commercial packinghouses and downstream food distribution systems.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS, however, interested firms may submit a capability statement in response to the above requirement with reference to FDA-NOI-1164936 and pricing information by August 19th, 2016 @ 2:30 PM EST to Naomi Carter, Contract Specialist, Email: Naomi.Carter@fda.hhs.gov. A determination not to open competition based responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the GovernmentFDA-NOI -1164936
Synopsis - Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This synopsis is hereby issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15 day notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce that the Food and Drug Administration's intents to negotiate a Firm Fixed Price sole source contract with Pennsylvania State Fruit Research and Extension Center located at 290 University Dr., P.O. Box 330 Biglerville, PA 17307-0330.

The Government intends to negotiate solely with Pennsylvania State University per FAR 6.302-1, as no other source of supplies will satisfy agency requirements.

The FDA's intent is to obtain a multiple year award (a minimum of 3 years) for environmental surveillance data on the incidence and prevalence of L. monocytogenes in stone and apple fruit production environments. Because the huge variation of weather from year to year, a single year of data would not be representative or reliable enough to be the basis of any public health policy decisions.

Pennsylvania State University has a long history of research, facilities and resources which includes a large scale orchard, including many different fruits, which is very unique for research. There are also nearby large fruit orchards that are representative of regular fruit production within the United States. Multiyear sampling of representative commercial orchards, fruit packing, and storage facilities is critical to determine if L. monocytogenes distribution within the orchards can be tied to commercial packinghouses and downstream food distribution systems.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS, however, interested firms may submit a capability statement in response to the above requirement with reference to FDA-NOI-1164936 and pricing information by August 19th, 2016 @ 2:30 PM EST to Naomi Carter, Contract Specialist, Email: Naomi.Carter@fda.hhs.gov. A determination not to open competition based responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.