USDA, ARS, FMOD, BA, Contracting Section, Bldg. 003, Rm. 329, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

B -- NUTRIENT TESTING AND ANALYSIS SOL 19-3K47-97 DUE 063097 POC Debra Kaelberer, Contract Specialist, (301) 504-5548 The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (ARS, USDA) intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purpose of obtaining nutrient testing and analysis. The government contemplates award of a firm fixed price, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) service contract for a 12 month base period plus four additional 12 month option periods. Multiple awards for this procurement are possible, however, the government reserves the right to issue only one award. This requirement is part of a five-year study that will be conducted to obtain proximate, carbohydrate fractions, mineral, vitamin, fatty acids values and other components such as alcohol, caffeine, theobromine, etc. as part of the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. The purpose of the program is to achieve long-sought improvements in the National Nutrient Database through a comprehensive revision of scientific concept and technical approach. Specific Aim 4 of the program calls for the analysis of foods under USDA laboratory contracts. Foods to be analyzed will be determined by the Key Foods approach, which identifies significant contributors of nutrients to the total nutrient intake, and will, in most cases, be sent to the contractor. The contractor may need to obtain a limited number of samples locally and ship them to a designated third party. The number of analyses for each nutrient or nutrient cluster will depend on their relative contribution to the total nutrient intake. This solicitation is 100% set-aside for small business concerns. The applicable standard industrial classification code (SIC code) is 8734. For the purpose of this procurement, any concern submitting a proposal is classified small if its annual receipts for its preceding three fiscal years do not exceed $5 million. This is a request for proposal. Offerors are required to submit a technical and price proposal for evaluation by the Government. A firm fixed price IDIQ contract will be awarded to the responsible offeror who submits the proposal considered most advantageous to the Government considering price and technical evaluation factors. All responsible small business concerns may submit an offer which will be considered by the agency. Place of performance is not known at this time as services will occur at contractor's facility. The Contracting Officer has requested a wage determination for counties in the DC metropolitan area. The Contracting Officer will request wage determinations for additional possible places of performance if asked to do so in writing. All such requests must identify offeror's state and county and should be received with your request for the solicitation. Offerors desiring a copy of the RFP should submit a written request to the address above or requests may be faxed to 301/504-5009. No telephone requests for solicitation package will be accepted. Solicitation is scheduled to be issued on or about May 30, 1997, or 15 days following the date of this notice. See Numbered Note 1. (0129)

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