Tropical Soybean Germplasm Winter Nursery Seed

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service seeks to award a single-source firm fixed price contract for tropical soybean germplasm winter nursery seed increase services, with quotations due August 24, 2026, and questions due August 19 at 12:00 PM Central Time. Costa Rica Seeds Winter Production Services is identified as the proposed vendor; however, the Government reserves discretion to compete the contract based on responses received and will consider all timely responses.

Place of performance is Urbana, Illinois at USDA ARS, 1101 W Peabody Drive. The contractor must operate in a tropical environment at latitudes 10–11 suitable for tropical soybean production and must plant 900 plots with 75 plants per plot by December 15, 2026. The Statement of Work requires the contractor to increase seeds of diverse tropical soybean germplasm accessions (maturity groups IX and X) that do not naturally mature in the continental United States. Key deliverables include assisting with import permits and customs clearance; providing seed beds; administering agronomic practices; documenting flower color and characteristics throughout the growing season; harvesting and cleaning seeds when mature (typically April); and shipping cleaned seeds to Urbana, Illinois. The contractor must employ staff trained in agronomic practices for soybean winter nurseries with experience in diverse, exotic germplasm. No travel is required. The NAICS code is 111110, Soybean Farming; PSC is F009, Natural Resources/Conservation–Seed Collection/Production. Evaluation uses lowest price technically acceptable criteria, with only the lowest-priced quote initially evaluated for technical acceptability and past performance. Offerors must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the specified receipt date. One award is anticipated.