SPECIAL NOTICE
H -- Sole Source Notice SARS-CoV-2 Sample Collection in Commercial Mink Farms
- Notice Date
- 7/11/2022 4:35:30 PM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 115210
— Support Activities for Animal Production
- Contracting Office
- MRPBS MINNEAPOLIS MN MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401 USA
- ZIP Code
- 55401
- Solicitation Number
- SS-7112022
- Response Due
- 7/16/2022 8:00:00 AM
- Point of Contact
- Kim Yen Tu, Phone: 16123363602
- E-Mail Address
-
kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov
(kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- SBA Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- Description
- This is NOT a request for quotes or proposals. The Government hereby submits a notice of intent to award a sole source firm fixed price contract to�Fur Commission USA�for national industry level SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in commercial Mink industry. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity: Requiring Activity: Veterinary Services USDA APHIS 4700 River Road Riverdale, MD 20737 (301) 821-7406 Contracting Activity: Procurement Branch Acquisition and Asset Management Division USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Ave., Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 The nature and/or description of the action being approved. APHIS intends to issue a commercial sole source contract to the Fur Commission USA for services involving collection, preparation, shipment and quality oversight of commercial mink nasal swabs and serum samples.� These services are required for the purpose of generating national industry level SARS-CoV-2 surveillance over a six-month period. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency�s needs (including the estimated value). APHIS requires biological samples from U.S. commercial mink as part of its national SARS CoV-2 disease surveillane program.The Fur Commission USA is uniquely qualified to perform this requirement. The Commission will identify 20 qualified mink producer sites and provide/oversee 250 weekly nasal swabs and 250 monthly serum samples by January 2023. The total estimated cost of this contract is under $500,000.00. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.� The following circumstance justifies the exception to sole source/brand name under FAR 13.5:� 41 U.S.C � 1901 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures up to $7.5 million, as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a). Statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.� The Fur Commission USA has unique qualifications and specialized capabilities that are not prevalent in the marketplace. It is the only known source capable of performing this requirement. The Fur Commission USA is a representative body that promotes fur farming in the United States and the health of the industry. It is uniquely capable of soliciting up to 20 qualified mink producer sites for the required mink nasal swabs and serum samples and determining whether sites have sufficient volume to meet the sample size. The Commission has qualified and experienced personnel to provide/oversee 250 weekly nasal swabs and 250 monthly serum samples from up to 20 individual national dispersed sites for a period of six months. Lastly, the Commission is capable of using its existing communications network with the American commercial mink producer industry to disseminate the surveillance project�s findings and assist APHIS with associated clinical actions.�� Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic. The potential for spillover of the virus from humans to wildlife is a concern because of the potential health impacts to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, as well as the possible establishment of a wildlife reservoir of the virus. Early in the human pandemic, Denmark and then other countries reported zoonotic infections of mink farms with SARS-CoV-2 virus via transmission from infected farm workers. Soon, molecular-based studies showed the likely transmission of SARS-CoV-2 isolates back to humans from infected mink. Limited person to person spread of mink origin viruses was reported, particularly in Denmark, heightening concerns for consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infections in mink herds. In fall of 2020, a total of 16 U.S. herds were diagnosed with SARS-Cov-2 infection, with some evidence that limited transmission back to humans may have occurred in very limited circumstances. No ongoing human to human spread of mink origin SARS-CoV-2 virus was documented in the U.S. in 2020, and all infected herds cleared viral infections and returned to negative status through isolation and biosecurity practices. In response to increasing concerns for risks from mink infections with SARS-CoV-2 from human sources, a private biological company (Zoetis) made an experimental vaccine available for use in the spring of 2021, and USDA-APHIS-VS-CVB granted permission for its experimental use upon approval by state animal health officials, based on safety studies and reasonable expectations of efficacy. 90%+ of the mink herd was estimated to have been vaccinated in 2021, and no cases of clinical SARS-CoV-2 were reported in the U.S. in calendar year 2021.� Concurrently in 2021 APHIS VS introduced Mink SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Avoidance and Monitoring Program (Mink STAMP), a pilot plan to encourage producers to practice good biosecurity as well as voluntarily submit samples for active surveillance of their herds for SARS-Cov-2 surveillance. Although no clinical SARS-CoV-2 was reported in mink through passive surveillance (regulatory reporting), few producers were willing to submit samples form healthy mink (active surveillance), despite Mink STAMP support. The most often cited reason for non-participation has been fear of finding a subclinical infection which would lead to herd quarantine and adverse publicity. Since the voluntary 2021 Mink STAMP pilot project was not able to obtain the required information for SARS-CoV-2 health surveillance, APHIS must now proceed with contracting to obtain the data. ���� In order for APHIS-VS to obtain critical data in 2022 related to the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms from producers� reluctance to voluntarily submit samples for active surveillance, the Agency must work with mink industry�s representative body, the Fur Commission, to gain access to this proprietary information.� APHIS intends to contract with the Fur Commission USA to solicit, manage and oversee biosocial mink sampling from up to 20 individual commercial producer sites that are geographically dispersed over a six-month period to reasonably represent the national herd.���� Description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.�� A notice of intent to sole source with the Fur Commission USA will be posted on SAM.gov.� No similar follow-on requirements are anticipated in the future.� Description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted.� APHIS has conducted extensive direct market research by speaking with individual mink producers and State Departments of Agriculture.� The Agency has held multiple industry meetings and discusses with national organizations to identify potential sources and acquisition strategies.� Communications APHIS held with mink producers indicated qualified sites would not individually compete as prime contractors given concerns.���� Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition. APHIS requires all surveillance services must be completed no later than January 2023 due to the standard mink industry business cycle.� The Fur Commission USA is the only known source capable of providing the required services within this period.� APHIS anticipates contract award by August 2022.� Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.� The Contracting Officer will make a fair and reasonbale price determination based upon market research pricing data and comparions to pricing for similar/comparable services.� _______ The determination not to compete this proposed contract action is solely within the discretion of the Government.�The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.�This is NOT a request for quotes or proposals. Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to Contracting Officer, Kim Yen Tu, at kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov via e-mail only (no phone calls/voice mail messages regarding questions will not be accepted and will not receive a response).
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/8444c817deba4c3e892e4d5ddf5b9ddc/view)
- Record
- SN06383912-F 20220713/220711230104 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's SAM Daily Index Page |