Twenty-Four Head of Cattle (Calves) - Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This presolicitation Notice of Intent to Sole Source is issued by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS) in accordance with FAR 5.1, Presolicitation. The intent of this presolicitation notice is for informational purposes only. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement.

This is a presolicitation Notice of Intent to Sole Source only. This is not a Solicitation Announcement, Request for Quote (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for Bids (RFB). It is also not an announcement for a forthcoming solicitation announcement, RFQ, RFP, or RFQ nor does it restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. No presolicitation synopsis followed by a solicitation, combined synopsis/solicitation, solicitation, or solicitation package is expected to be issued for this procurement at this time. This presolicitation notice does not constitute any commitment by the Government.

The Government assumes nofinancial responsibility for any costs incurred in providing a response to this presolicitation notice. The Government will provide no reimbursement for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of any information that is received in response to this presolicitation notice. The USDA-ARS will not make an award on the basis of any responses received to this presolicitation notice. Responses will be used by the Government to help determine the appropriate acquisition strategy decision for this and any future requirements similar to this one. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this presolicitation notice.

The USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insect Research Laboratory located at 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, Texas 78028 has a requirement for 24 heads of cattle (calves) that meet the specifications outlined on “Attachment 1 - Statement of Requirements” found in the “Attachments/Links”. The Government is aware of only one contractor that is capable of providing animals that meet the specifications of this requirement. Were a request for competitive quotations issued it is anticipated that only a single technically acceptable quote would be received. As such, the USDA-ARS Contracting Operations Branch (Acquisition and Property Division) intends to make a firm fixed price, sole source award to:

Gillespie Livestock Co.

621 Longhorn Street,

Fredericksburg, TX 78624

The objective of the intended sole source award is to acquire 24 heads of cattle (calves) that meet the specifications outlined on “Attachment 1 - Statement of Requirements”.

The anticipated delivery by no later than Monday, March 30, 2026.

The associated NAICS is 112111 (“Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming”)with a small business size standard of under $2.5 Million. The applicable PSC is 8820 (“Live Animals, Not Raised for Food”).

The proposed award will be made using Simplified Procedures (FAR 12.201-1) citing the authority of FAR 12.102(a) for acquisitions valued at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) to document the decision that only one source is available and the basis for the decision. A redacted copy of the Justification and Approval (“J&A”) form is attached for reference.

It is anticipated that the award will be made by or before Friday, January 16, 2026. If a contractor believes they can provide the cattle they must provide the information by date/time/time zone stated in the “Response Date” field.

This presolicitation notice is NOT a request for competitive quotations. However, any interested and responsible vendors that regard themselves as capable of providing technically acceptable animals that can meet the specifications stated on the “Attachment 1 - Statement of Requirements” are invited to identify their interests and capability by submitting a response to this presolicitation notice. Any submission in response to this presolicitation notice must show clear and convincing evidence as well as be in sufficient enough detail to show that the vendor can provide animals capable of meeting the Government’s need and that competition would be advantageous to the Government.

To be considered eligible, any vendors who respond to this presolicitation notice must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration at the time of their submission. A Unique Entity Identifier number (UEI#) is required in order to register in SAM. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220. NO EXCEPTIONS. Vendor must include their UEI# on their submission. Vendors should also include their SAM status as well as the business size and socio-economic status(es) for the applicable NAICS.

Responses must be submitted in writing via email to the point of contact listed in the “Primary Point of Contact” field and be received by or before the close date/time/time zone stated in the “Response Date” field relative to this notice with all of the requested and required documentation. Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted. Verbal responses made by phone call, submissions by USPS mail, submissions in the body of an email, OR submissions only on company letterhead without a completed copy of the response form may not be accepted. Failure to submit all of the required information/documentation on time (defined as past the “Response Date and Time” stated in this notice) or meet all of the submission requirements may result in a response being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration as a potential source.

The subject line of all emails related to this presolicitation notice shall include the notice ID number. The notice ID number corresponds to the “Notice ID” field. It is recommended that the subject include the presolicitation notice title as well. Failure to do so may result in any capabilities statement submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration as a potential source.

Inquiries concerning this presolicitation notice are to be submitted in writing via email only to the point of contact listed in the “Primary Point of Contact” field. All inquiries regarding presolicitation notice requirements or clarifications will be allowed up to 72-hours prior to the close date/time/time zone listed in the “Response Date” field. No phone inquiries or requests for return phone calls will be accepted. No questions will be accepted or answered after this deadline unless determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Any inquiry responses or clarifications not already documented in the presolicitation notice posting information will be added as an amendment for all vendors to access. This information will be noted in the “Description” field of the public posting at least 48-hours prior to the “Response Date.”

This presolicitation notice does not obligate the Government to make an award or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are also advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback to the respondents about any of the information received. No proprietary, sensitive, confidential, and/or classified information should be included with your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information if it is determined that competing the procurement is in the best interest of the Government.

Any responses received by or before the deadline shall be considered by the Government. After completing a review and analysis of any responses that are received, the Government will determine whether to compete the procurement or proceed with making a sole source award to a single vendor. However, determination by the Government whether or not to compete this proposed award upon response to this presolicitation notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received by the date and time specified in the “Response Date” field, an award will be made without any further notice.