SOLICITATION NOTICE
37 -- Feed Intake 24-Node System
- Notice Date
- 7/14/2014
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 333111
— Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Agricultural Research Service - Midwest Area
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- AG-5615-S-14-BB06
- Archive Date
- 8/8/2014
- Point of Contact
- Dolores J Milton, Phone: 6088900045
- E-Mail Address
-
dolores.milton@ars.usda.gov
(dolores.milton@ars.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This notice is a Notice of Intent to Award. The Midwest Area for the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture intends to issue an award to GrowSafe Systems, Ltd., 273216 Range Road 23, Airdrie, AB, Canada, T4B 2A3. This is a sole source procurement under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This is a requirement of the US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA, ARS, MWA, Madison, WI for the vendor to provide a GrowSafe Model 6000 Feed Intake System to allow continuous electronic recording of feed intake in a system customized to fit a tie stall facility for dairy cows at the USDA research dairy farm in Prairie du Sac, WI. This installation includes the feed intake nodes with 24 feed tubs, metalwork, load bar pairs, data acquisition panel, base station, software, delivery and installation. Interested parties should submit written mail responses including prices and technical data sufficient to determine capability to meet the entire requirement and must be received in this office within 10 calendar days after publication of this notice. Written responses should be sent to Dolores Milton, Contracting Officer at US Dairy Forage Research Center, Administration Office, 1925 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1108. It should be noted that no contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but will be used to determine if a comparable source more advantageous to the Government is available. If no affirmative written responses are received, negotiations will be held with GrowSafe Systems, Ltd. Without further notice. This acquisition is being conducted under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as Contracting Officer, hereby approve the use of other than full and open competition for the proposed contractual action pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1), FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. JUSTIFICATION 1. Agency and Contracting Activity (FAR 6.303-2(a)(1)). USDA, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE, Midwest Area, Procurement & Property Section 2. Nature/Description of Action(s) (FAR 6.303-2(a)(2)). a. This contracting action is to acquire 24 customized GrowSafe Model 6000 feeding nodes installed into a tie stall feeding system to continuously, electronically measure feed intake of lactating dairy cows. 3. Description of Supplies/Services (FAR 6.303-2(a)(3)). This award will be for the installation of a GrowSafe Model 6000 Feed Intake System. The installation includes 24 feed tubs, metalwork, load bar pairs, data acquisition panel, base station, software, delivery and installation. 4. Identification of Statutory Authority (FAR 6.303-2(a)(4)). 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), FAR Subpart 6.302-1. The services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of services will satisfy the Agency requirements. 5. Demonstration of Contractor's Unique Qualifications (FAR 6.303-2(a)(5)). a. Only one responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy Agency Requirements (FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)) (1) FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) states, "When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, or for DOD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for." (2) The named vendor is the only producer of the required equipment that allows continuous recording of feed intake data in a tie stall facility. GrowSafe Systems, Ltd, designed and built this equipment. Many of its parts are custom made and are not available from other sources. This manufacturer is the only source qualified for this required equipment and support. This also includes support and training issues. This technology is further covered under US patents no. 6,427,627 and 6,497,197. Therefore there are no other suppliers which can supply components to repair, upgrade or expand the system. GrowSafe Systems, Ltd, is the sole supplier of both hardware and software for the GrowSafe 6000 feed intake system. 6. Federal Business Opportunities - FedBizOpps.gov (FBO) Announcement/Potential Sources (FAR 6.303-2(a)(6).No additional sources have been found for as sources of a feed intake system with the required capabilities. GrowSafe designed and built this equipment, its parts are custom made and are covered under US patents no. 6,427,627 and 6,497,197. 7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost (FAR 6.303-2(a)(7). The equipment is custom designed and built to integrate into the current feeding system at the USDFRC research dairy facility. Service, parts, and software are customized for the specified equipment. Acquiring parts from a third party is prohibitive. Therefore, it is cost effective to install a system through GrowSafe Systems, Ltd. Price is expected to be fair and reasonable as an analysis of costs will be performed in accordance with FAR 15.805-3. 8. Description of Market Research (FAR6.303-2 (a)(8). USDA/ARS is constantly surveying the market and from this experience knows that the service is proprietary and only available from the vendor identified. 9. Any Other Supporting Facts (FAR 6.303-2(a)(9)) Due to the proprietary nature of the item needed to perform the research, at this time there is only one source available. 10. Listing of Interested Sources (FAR 6.303-2(a)(10). No other sources are available at this time. 11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition (FAR 6.303(a)(11)). Vendor surveys are done from time to time to see if other existing items can meet the research requirements. 12. Technical Requirements and Certifications; (FAR 6.303-1(b) and FAR 6.303-2(b) I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification are complete and accurate. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION: (FAR 6.303-1(A), 6.303-2(A)(12) I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. //s// Name: Dolores Milton Title: Contracting Officer
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3cc3d0f1d55a664b71f08259cfa73933)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USDA Dairy Forage Research Farm, S8872 Sunset Drive, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, 53578, United States
- Zip Code: 53578
- Zip Code: 53578
- Record
- SN03423887-W 20140716/140714235541-3cc3d0f1d55a664b71f08259cfa73933 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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