AMENDMENT 0001 (Dated 12/17/2024): This amendment (0001) is being issued to add a questions and answers document to the Attachments/Links section. See the Attachments/Links section for the questions and answers document. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Any amendments and document updates related to this solicitation will only be available electronically on SAM.gov. This is the only official location where the solicitation documents can be obtained and where updates will be posted. No hard copy solicitation materials are available. It is the responsibility of vendors to monitor SAM.gov Contract Opportunities regarding this solicitation. The solicitation number 12505B25Q0030 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated clauses and provisions are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-01. The associated NAICS is 111140 (Wheat Farming) with a small business size standard of under $2.25 Million. The applicable PSC is 8710 (Forage and Feed). This solicitation is issued as a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside. The clause FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside is included. As such, quotes received from vendors that are not small business concerns relative to the associated NAICS will be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Midwest Area (MWA) Administrative Offices Acquisitions & Personal Property/Fleet Team on behalf of the USDA-ARS Animal Resources Unit (ARU) of the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) is requesting quotes for: 0001 - Small Square Straw Bales; Qty: 120 tons The Period of Performance will be for 12 months (anticipated to be 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2025) with deliveries to be made on an as-needed basis after receipt on an order issued off of the resulting Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract. The vendor shall make deliveries within five (5) business days after receipt of a telephone or written order from an authorized Government employee The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination and must accept credit cards as a method of payment. As such, quoted prices to include delivery and unloading at the delivery location as well as any applicable credit card fees. Deliveries for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ Contract will be made to 1920 Dayton Avenue, Building 13, Ames, Iowa 50010. For additional information related to the solicitation please see the requirements document in the attachments. Inquiries concerning this solicitation 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 solicitation requirements or clarifications will be allowed up to 48-hours prior to the close date/time/time zone listed in the Date Offers Due 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 solicitation posting information will be added as an amendment for all offerors to access. This information will be noted in the Description field of the public posting at least 24 hours prior to the Date Offers Due. Date Offers Due extension requests will only be considered up to 24-hours prior to the close date/time/time zone listed in the Date Offers Due field. Not all extension requests will be granted. A complete quote 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 Date Offers Due field section relative to this solicitation with ALL of the requested and required documentation to be put into consideration for award. Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted. Verbal quotes made by phone call, quotes submitted by USPS mail, quotes submitted in the body of an email, OR quotes submitted ONLY on company letterhead WITHOUT a completed copy of the quote submission forms may NOT be accepted. Failure to submit all of the required documentation on time or meet all of the quote submission requirements may result in a quote being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. The Government anticipates making an award by or before the close of business on December 20, 2024. Please ensure your quote will be current and that the price(s) quoted will NOT expire until after the anticipated award date or for at least 30 days after the close date/time/time zone listed in the Date Offers Due field (whichever is later). All correspondence concerning this solicitation shall be submitted via email only to the point of contact listed in the Primary Point of Contact field. No phone inquiries or requests for return phone calls will be accepted. No other contacts are listed that can officially represent this solicitation. Please note the time zone designation in the "General Information" section above. Other time zones are as designated in the solicitation attachments. The subject line of all emails related to this solicitation shall include the RFQ number. The RFQ number corresponds to the Notice ID field. It is recommended that the subject include the solicitation title as well. Failure to do so may result in any quote submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Only quotes submitted in response to a solicitation posted by someone from an Administrative Offices Acquisition and Personal Property/Fleet can be put into consideration for award. Any quotes that were provided or obtained by someone during the market research phase (such as in response to a request from a program office, a sources sought, etc.) CANNOT be put into consideration for award. Be sure to read and review all of the attachments and to complete any and all additional documentation required as part of your quote submission. Of critical importance is to review the requirements document as it contains the technical specifications, features, and capabilities of the needed product(s) and/or service(s). Vendors are to submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-1. The applicable FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions are included in the attachments. Vendors responding to this solicitation shall submit their quote along with all other requested and required documentation (such as completed FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions) that are to be included as part of all vendors responses. The Government anticipates making one Firm-Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract to a single vendor. The total price quoted will be used as the basis for evaluation and award. As such, the total price quoted must include any and ALL fees, charges, and/or surcharges as prices/costs cannot be added or changed after a Firm-Fixed Price IDIQ Contract has been made. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. The eventual award will be made as a whole (not per line item) for ALL items listed on the quote submission form. As such, be certain you are able to provide and quote on all of the required items (including any options). If any line item(s) will be provided at no additional cost or will not be individually priced, please include it on your quote by entering a $0.00-dollar amount for the line item(s). Also, if the price/value of any line item(s) will be included in the price/value of one or more-line items, please specify which line item(s) are included under a single price. Otherwise, if a price is not entered for one or more-line items they will be considered as being quoted for a $0.00-dollar amount. If any line items are not included in a vendors quote it may be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Please review ALL of the FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions included in the document. The FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions constitute the terms and conditions for submitting a quote in response to the solicitation as well as the terms and conditions of the anticipated award. The FAR/AGAR provisions apply only to the solicitation and submission of quotes. The FAR/AGAR clauses apply to both the solicitation and submission of quotes as well as to the resulting award. The FAR/AGAR clauses will be included as part of the resulting award. Any addenda will be noted in the clauses and provisions document. The FAR clauses 52.212-4 and 52.212-5 as well as the FAR provisions 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 are applicable. The clauses listed under FAR 52.212-5(a) are applicable to all solicitations and awards. The clauses marked with an X under FAR 52.212-5(b) and (c) are applicable to the solicitation and the eventual award. The evaluation criteria of FAR 52.212-2 is outlined in a following paragraph. Additional FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions are detailed in the FAR/AGAR clauses and provisions document. It is strongly advised that a completed copy of the FAR provision FAR 52.212-3 be included with the submission of all quotes (especially if the applicable NAICS or a NAICS with the same or lower small business threshold is not included in a vendors SAM registration). A copy of FAR 52.212-3 is provided in the attachments. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, the criteria for evaluation and basis for award will be Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Technically acceptable is define as meeting ALL of the technical specifications, features, and capabilities identified on the requirements document. The Government intends to make one Firm-Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract to a single vendor based on the LPTA quote received. "LPTA" means the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable quote with the lowest evaluated price. The lowest priced quote will be evaluated first. If found technically acceptable, NO other quotes will be reviewed. If NOT found technically acceptable, the next lowest priced quote will be evaluated. This process will continue until a technically acceptable quote is identified or all quotes have been reviewed and none are found to be technically acceptable. The Government will NOT review higher priced quotes if the lowest (or a lower) priced quote is determined to be technically acceptable. If a technically acceptable quote is found the price quoted will also be evaluated to determine if it is fair and reasonable. Once the price quoted is determined to be fair and reasonable, then a determination of responsibility will be performed. If a quote received is determined to be technically acceptable, at a price that is fair and reasonable, and is from a vendor found to be responsible then the evaluations will be closed and an award shall be made. If no quotes received are found to be technically acceptable, if none of the prices quoted are determined to be fair and reasonable, or none of the quoting vendors are found to be responsible then the solicitation may be amended and reposted, an entirely new solicitation may be posted, or the requirement may be cancelled. To be eligible to be put into consideration for award, all vendors who respond to a posted solicitation must have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time they submit their quote. NO EXCEPTIONS. Vendors who are not currently registered in SAM or whose SAM registration is inactive when they submit a quote will be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. A current and active SAM registration is also necessary for modifications to be made to any existing awards, orders to be placed against any existing contracts, and for payments to be made for products delivered or services rendered on prior awards. As such, it is critical to maintain a current and active SAM registration. Be certain you have a current and active SAM registration before submitting a quote in response to a solicitation. If you are NOT currently registered in SAM or your account has become inactive, you must register or reactivate your account and verify that it has become active prior to submitting a quote. Failure to do so will result in any quote submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Use of the Data Universal Numbering System (or DUNS) number as a vendors entity identifier ended on April 4, 2022. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is now required in order to register in SAM. The UEI# will be used as the primary vendors evaluation reference. Vendors must include their UEI# on ALL quotes submitted in response to this solicitation. Beyond the UEI, no vendor provided past performance documentation is required with quote submissions. Vendors should also include their SAM status as well as the business size and socio-economic status(es) for the applicable NAICS on their quote. Furthermore, vendors that are found to have active exclusions, active proceedings, or listings of Terminations for Default/Cause within three years of the quote submission date may be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. Failure to do so will result in any quote submitted being deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. If you experience any problems with the SAM.gov website or your SAM registration and will require assistance you will need to call the SAM Helpdesk at 866-606-8220. If you have any questions related to the SAM.gov website or your SAM registration you will need to call the SAM Helpdesk as well. The POC(s) for the solicitation cannot assist you with this Government website. Invoice(s) for orders issued off of the resulting IDIQ contact with a total value that is at or below the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 shall be processed locally and paid via the Government purchase card. Invoice(s) for orders issued off of the resulting IDIQ contact with a total value in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 must be issued through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) in order to receive payment. In accordance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all payments for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 are to be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). The vendor shall provide financial institution information to the Finance Office designated above in accordance with FAR 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management. Effective May 6, 2013, payment requests that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). Payment Request means any request for financing payment or invoice payment by the vendor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and ConditionsCommercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov. The vendor must use the IPP website to register, access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment on orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00. IPP is a government-wide secure web-based payment information service offered free of charge to Government agencies and their suppliers by the U.S. Department of Treasurys Financial Management Service (FMS). The submission and payment of invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 will be made through IPP. The "Submit Invoice-to" address for USDA-ARS orders in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 shall be IPP. To invoice for such orders, a vendor must enroll in IPP by visiting https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/index.htm. Once enrolled, all invoices for orders in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 must be submitted electronically through IPP. This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury and you can find more information at this website https://www.ipp.gov. Vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP at https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/enrollment in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00. Invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 that are submitted by any means other than through IPP cannot be processed for payment and will be rejected. Payment terms will be NET 30 from the date an invoice submitted in IPP is approved. Prepayment is NOT permitted. Approval of an invoice submitted in IPP will NOT be made until confirmation from the Program Office has been received that all products were delivered. Any invoice(s) submitted before product deliver will be rejected. An invoice may be rejected for reasons including but not limited to the product(s) delivered being damaged, items are missing, the items have yet to be provided, the quantity does not match the quantity actually received, the items are being invoiced under the wrong order, or the product(s) do not meet the requirements stipulated in the IDIQ contact. Rejected invoices may be resubmitted in IPP for approval after delivery has occurred or after any issues with the product have been resolved. Vendors must be certain all products have been delivered with no issues noted before submitting an invoice in IPP. All invoices for orders issued against the resulting IDIQ contact that are in excess of the micropurchase threshold of $9,999.00 should be submitted in IPP within a year of the final delivery or completion date. Vendor assistance with enrollment, UserIDs and Passwords for IPP can be obtained by contacting the IPP Helpdesk via email at [email protected] or IPP Customer Support Desk at 1-866-973-3131. For all other IPP issues, please contact the National Finance Centers Controller Operations Division (COD) Helpdesk at 1-877-243-3072 or [email protected]. Any vender responding to this solicitation must ensure that its response is complete and furnishes sufficiently detailed technical information to allow the Government to conclusively determine that the vendor qualifies and is capable of providing products and/or services capable of meeting the technical specifications, features, and capabilities identified in the requirements document at the quoted price. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information not identified in the response. Interested vendors are instructed to only provide the information requested. Any additional information may not be reviewed. Failure to demonstrate compliance with all instructions and/or to provide the required information in the requested format may constitute sufficient cause for a quote to be deemed nonresponsive and disqualified from being put into consideration for award. All responsible sources may submit a quote which if received by the date and time noted in the Date Offers Due field will be put into considered for award. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. This solicitation does not constitute any commitment by the Government. It does not obligate the Government to make an award or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred in providing a response to this solicitation. 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 solicitation. Vendors are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback to the vendors about any of the information received. Vendors who do not receive an award may not be notified of the results of this solicitation.