SPECIAL NOTICE
88 -- Purchase of Mules for the Olympic National Park
- Notice Date
- 3/22/2017
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 112920
— Horses and Other Equine Production
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Interior, National Park Service, NPS - All Offices, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Post Office Box 25287, Denver, Colorado, 80225-0287
- ZIP Code
- 80225-0287
- Solicitation Number
- P17PS00593
- Archive Date
- 4/20/2017
- Point of Contact
- Nadine Joe, Phone: (509) 754-7831
- E-Mail Address
-
nadine_joe@nps.gov
(nadine_joe@nps.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), the National Park Service (NPS), Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, Washington, intends to issue a sole source award to Fred Snook, Fred Snook, who manages an annual mule auction/sale event in Salmon, ID, known as "Salmon Select Sale" that Olympic National Park (OLYM) trail crew will be attending from April 5-9, 2017. The anticipated award price will be $25,000 or less, depending on prices of mules selected for purchase during the sale/auction event. OLYM trail crew staff intends to inspect and evaluate the mules according to the evaluation criteria listed in the below Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition. The Government anticipates being able to choose from among an estimated 50 mules that will be sold by individual sellers/owners attending the event, however, all sales will be processed through Fred Snook, Salmon River Association. This notice is NOT a request for quote (RFQ) and no solicitation will be issued. The North American Industry Classificaton System (NAICS) code is 112920, Horse and Other Equine Production with a small business size standard of $0.75 million. In accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii), any firm that believes it can provide the stated mules is welcome to provide a capability statement or quotation that shall include supporting documentation of mules' capabilities that would meet the evaluation criteria, submitted to the Contract Specialist, which will be considered by the agency. Contract Specialist is Nadine Joe at email address nadine_joe@nps.gov. No telephone or facsimile requests will be accepted. Responses received will be used for future acquisitions. This procurement will be prepared in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETION Date: March 22, 2017, Purchase Request: 0040323550 1. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM/SERVICE BEING PROCURED AND ITS INTENDED USE ($25,000): Non-competitive award to Fred Snook, Salmon Select Sale, an annual mule auction/sale event in Salmon, ID, for an indefinite quantity of mules, NTE $25,000. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) and FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. EXPLAIN: The bulk of Olympic National Park's trail maintenance operation is supported by materials, tools and equipment that are packed by mules. The mules pack food, tents and supplies for trail crew to work in remote locations where the majority of trail maintenance occurs. Packers usually work alone and travel more than 30 miles a day with strings of 4-5 mules and loads exceeding 140 pounds in the performance of pack support. During the Salmon Select Sale event in April 2017, NPS representatives will evaluate mules offered for sale, considering price and evaluation factors other than price, which are as follows: (1) Response. This is the mule's initial response to human interaction and handling. Normal response is assessed by the mule's alertness, positive demeanor and calmness when approached by the park handlers. A dull calm response can be a sign of sound mental health, good training but may be an indicator for underlying health issues. Nervous and flighty responses show potential mental issues, can cause mental and physical stress and a sign that a mule may be dangerous to the handler. (2) Age. The age of the mule is good indicator of remaining life and its condition. Obviously, longer remaining life is better value for the government and condition is an indicator of short-term medical costs and usability. Maximum acceptable age for this procurement is 12 years old. (3) Height. The size consists of several factors including height and breadth which indicates the carrying capacity of the mule. OLYM's working environment requires mules to be taller in stature and build, and are measured in hands. Minimal acceptable height is 14/2. Optimal size is between 14/3 and 16/2 hands. A mule less than 13 hands is undesirable for park operational needs. (4) Temperament/Attitude. Temperament and attitude are critical to the safety of the handler and mule. A mule that shows good temperament and responds well to human interaction has a higher value than one that shows signs of aggression or flighty responses. Good temperament and attitude is determined by the mule's response to touching and lifting of its feet and demeanor when around other equine or handlers. Mules that show signs of aggression and flighty response to the above criteria can be dangerous to the handler and other mules in the herd. (5) Weight. The weight of the mule directly correlates with health, agility, and durability of the animal. This is an extremely important trait in pack and saddle mules who operate in backcountry mountainous terrain. Minimum acceptable weight is 1,000 pounds. (6) Pack. This reflects the mule's overall temperament, training and experience. A mule that has previous pack training in rugged mountainous terrain is desirable for park operations. (7) Saddle. This reflects the mule's overall temperament, training and experience. A mule that has previous saddle training in rugged mountainous terrain is desirable for park operations. In addition, a mule with saddle experience tends to be more versatile in training and can be trained as a pack mule. (8) Coggins/ Vaccination Record. This reflects the overall health and wellness regime of the mule. Annual wormer, three way shots and Coggins testing are mandatory for each mule and safety of the herd. (9) Hoof. Hoof and gait are directly correlated with mule health and posture and anatomy. Good hoof shape, size, symmetry, balance and condition are important characteristics for pack and saddle mules operating in backcountry wilderness settings. (10) Gait. A mule with a good posture and gait shows athleticism of the mule and overall durability. Steady stride and balance are signs of good bone and ligament healthy. Gait should be fluid and show signs of endurance, strength and agility. OLYM intends to purchase approximately 4 to 6 mules that are available for sale by individual sellers/owners attending the event, after a complete inspection of the mules to and in accordance with the evaluation factors above. Award will be made by the Contracting Officer on a best value basis. 3. MARKET RESEARCH: Sources Sought notice No. P17PS00593 was posted in FedBizOpps on 02/24/2017 for NAICS code 112920, Horse and Other Equine Production, for the purpose of obtaining a listing of small business entities per responses received that would include capabilities statements, indicating mules for sale and general interest in the procurement. No responses were received; therefore the assumption was that there was no interest from the small or large business community. Concurrent to the Sources Sought notice, additional market research was conducted in the Dynamic Small Business Search online database. The search identified 7 small businesses with NAICS code 112920 in Washington and Oregon, however, only 1 company sold mules, located in Oregon. The owner of that company stated they would be at the Salmon Select Sale event in April 2017. Additionally, market research was conducted in the SAM.gov database for NAICS 112920, for WA and OR, all entities (small or large), and resulted in 4 entities for WA, but none sold mules, and 3 entities for OR with only 1 selling mules (the same one as identified in the Dynamic Small Business Search that will be attending the Salmon Select Sale event in April 2017). Prior to 2016, Olympic National Park purchased mules from individual breeders located in WA, OR, ID, based on responses to a combined synopsis/solicitation. The solicitations were restricted to those states due to the impracticality and expense of procuring from a wider geographic area. Responses were minimal. The park trail crew were required to make long road trips, vendors were often unwilling or unable to register in SAM.gov, competition resulted in too few interested breeders to provide the number of mules needed, and the process was extremely inefficient and wasteful of tax dollars. Unfortunately, vendors working in this industry appear to be unwilling or reluctant to engage in business with the Government. The NPS, Olympic National Park has determined that the best and most efficient business approach needed to provide an adequate number of stock animals, at the best price is by selecting mules offered for sale at the annual Salmon Select Sale event. 4. IF THIS IS A DETERMINATION FOR SOLE SOURCE, THE CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFIES: a. Only one source is available or urgent and compelling circumstances exist. b. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable using the price analysis techniques described in FAR Part 13.106-3(a). /s/ Larry Lack, Trails Supervisor, OLYM [03/22/2017] /s/ Phaedra Fuller, Contracting Officer, OLYM [03/22/2017] /s/ Rod Roberson, Supervisory Contracting Officer, OLYM (approval required at one level above Contracting Officer) [03/22/2017]
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- SN04443180-W 20170324/170322234124-2e2bfd24818aad1899bfa1f10e75186c (fbodaily.com)
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