USDA-ARS-SAA, Richard B. Russell Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720

V -- SHIPMENT OF GENERAL FREIGHT WITHIN FLORIDA SOL RFQ-033-4384-99 DUE 083199 POC Pat Lang, Procurement Assistant, (706)546-3533; Alan Moore, Contracting Officer, (706) 546-3530. (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) This solicitation number RFQ-033-4384-99 is issued as a request for quotation. (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-11. (iv) This procurement is unrestricted. The standard industrial classification code is 4731. The small business size standard is $18.5 million average annual gross income for the past three years. (v) CLIN #1: Packing, loading, unloading; 1 each; lump sum. The contract price for this item shall be a firm, fixed price. CLIN #2: Transportation; 1 each; lump sum. The contract price for this item shall be an estimated price, based upon the contractor's estimate of the weight.Actual payment shall be made based upon evidence of weight in accordance with applicable DOT, FAR, and other federal requirements, as supplemented by any applicable state requirements. (vi) BACKGROUND -- The USDA, ARS, Horticultural Research Laboratory, Orlando, Florida, is a scientific research facility. This facility contains numerous scientific instruments, supplies, chemicals, lab equipment, and office equipment, including computers and supplies. This entire facility is being relocated to a new facility in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Much of the scientific equipment is delicate in that it sensitive to bumps and rough handling. The supplies consist of glassware, chemicals, and other types of supplies normally used in a scientific research laboratory. SCOPE The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, tools, and material necessary to pack/crate all scientific equipment, office furniture and equipment, computers, office supplies, and laboratory supplies, including chemicals, located at 2120 Camden Road,Orlando, Florida, and Sorrento Road, Plymouth, Florida; transport it to the USDA, ARS facility at 2001 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce, Florida; unload and unpack it, and set it in place in designated locations. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS General: The Government will make every attempt to disconnect all equipment and have it ready for the contractor to pack/crate or load into the moving vans. However, there may be occasions where an item has not been disconnected. In these cases, the contractor may be required to disconnect the equipment, and retain with the equipment any and all connection items, i.e., plugs, fittings, and/or cables. The contractor shall take all precautions to protect the floors at the new facility during the move. In addition, the contractor shall perform the following functions: 1. Packing. The contractor shall supply all necessary supplies, equipment, and labor for the packing and/or crating of the equipment and supplies prior to movement. Items shall be packed in such a manner as to assure NOBREAKAGE of the box contents during loading, transportation, unloading, and placement. Boxes packed by the contractor shall be clearly marked with the contents and destination (i.e. floor and/or room number) for delivery at the new facility. An inventory showing each box number and contents as well as each piece of equipment shall be provided to the Government representative after packing and prior to loading. 2. Loading. The contractor shall provide all necessary equipment and labor necessary for the safe loading of all equipment and boxes. Boxes and equipment loaded on to trucks shall be packed and/or protected in such a way to assure that they do not shift or break during transportation and unloading. 3. Transportation. The contractor shall supply all trucks, moving equipment, and drivers necessary for the safe transportation of the equipment and supplies from the Orlando facility to the new facility at Ft. Pierce. The contractor shall provide a sufficient number of trucks, moving equipment, and labor to make the fewest number of trips and within the shortest time frame possible. Drivers shall meet all state CDL requirements for driving the size of truck being used, including conformance with DOT, State, and Federal laws and regulations for the transportation of hazardous materials. 4. Unloading. The contractor shall provide all equipment and labor necessary for the safe unloading of the trucks, and movement of the equipment, supplies, and boxes to their designated locations. The contractor shall provide the opportunity for the Government representative to check the entire shipment against the inventory as the inventory is being unloaded. 5. Unpacking and Placement. The contractor shall unpack/uncrate all equipment items and set in place as designated by the Government's representative. Upon placement, the contractor shall remove from the Government's property all packing and/or crating material. The contractor will not be responsible for the re-connection of any equipment nor are they responsible for the unpacking of miscellaneous supply items (such as glassware, chemicals, office, and laboratory supplies) as designated by the Contracting Officer. PERFORMANCE PERIOD The Government requires that the physical move commence on or about September 7, 1999, and be completed no later than September 30, 1999. (These dates are contingent upon final acceptance of the ARS facilities at Ft. Pierce, Florida.) In order to meet these deadlines, the contractor shall have access to the facility at Orlando, Florida, for the purpose of packing/crating and preparing the equipment and supplies for movement commencing on September 7, 1999 at 7:00 a.m. local time. Therefore the total performance period for this requirement is September 7, through September 30, 1999. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The Government will: 1. Mark all equipment and supplies to be moved with a destination location. 2. Provide the contractor access to the facilities at the dates and times specified in "PERFORMANCE PERIOD." 3. Provide identification of hazardous material and high-value scientific equipment requiring a higher standard of care. 4. Provide a representative(s) to direct the contractor's personnel to designated locations for delivery of the equipment and boxes, and instruct the contractor on the proper placement of the equipment at the new facility. 5. For this acquisition, the following person will be designated as the Contracting Officer's Representative: Wayne Moore, USDA, ARS, Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2120 Camden Road, Orlando, Florida, (407) 897-7310. INSPECTION -- Any payments that may have been made to the contractor upon satisfactory completion of the move in no way relieves the contractor from any liabilities related to equipment damages or breakage during the move. Accordingly, the Government shall have a period of 60 calendar days after completion of the move to conduct its final inspection and acceptance. Any items broken or damaged during the move will be reported to the contractor in writing on or before the end of the 60 day period. REPAIRS The contractor shall be responsible for the repair/replacement of any and all equipment and supplies that were damaged during the move. Items requiring repair/replacement will be identified to the contractor as specified in "INSPECTION." A site visit is scheduled on August 19, 1999, at 9:00 AM, DST. The site visit will begin at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2120 Camden Road, Orlando, FL, and will include a site visit to Plymouth and Ft. Pierce, Florida. A second showing will be scheduled; the date and time for that showing will be posted in a subsequent CBD synopsis posted for that purpose. Prospective bidders are advised to visit the site and fully inform themselves as to the location, scope and magnitude of the work, and identification of materials requiring special handling prior to submitting a quotation. Failure to do so will not relieve the successful bidder of his/her responsibility under the resulting contract. (vii) Delivery shall be FOB Destination, USDA, ARS, Facility at 2001 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce, Florida, within the time-frame identified above. Inside delivery and placement is required. Acceptance shall be made at destination. (viii) The provision as 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The following provision is added as an addendum to this provision: 52.247-6. (ix) This acquisition is being handled under simplified acquisition procedures as authorized by FAR 12.203. The Contracting Officer may evaluate quotations on factors other than price and price-related factors, and will consider past performance in moving scientific equipment and hazardous materials. Formal evaluation of other factors does not require the creation or existence of a formal data base, but may be based on such information as the Contracting Officer's knowledge, previous experience, or customer surveys. The Government will use contractors who have a track record of successful past performance or who demonstrate a current superior ability to perform. As price and price-related factors between quoters become closer, these evaluation factors will carry a greater weight. Quoters are required to submit with their quotation at least three references indicative of past performance in this type of move. References must include the client's name, a contact person's name and telephone number, the date of the move, and a brief description of the type and amount of freight moved. Failure to submit complete references will result in the quotation not being considered. (x) Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror/Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, with its proposal. (xi) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following terms and conditions are added as an addendum to this clause: FAR clauses 52.247-2, 52.247-3, 52.247-5, 52.247-10, 52.247-12, 52.247-14, 52.247-15, 52.247-17, 52.247-21, 52.247-22, 52.247-27, and 52.247-28. (xii) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following FAR clauses cited in 52.212-5 are applicable to this acquisition: 52.222-41; 52.222-42, 52.222-44. (xiii) The contractor shall extend to the Government the full coverage of any standard commercial warranty normally offered in a similar commercial sale, provided such warranty is available at no additional cost to the Government. Acceptance of the standard commercial warranty does not waive the Government's rights under the Inspection clause nor does it limit the Government's rights with regard to the other terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the contract shall take precedence over the standard commercial warranty. The contractor shall provide a copy of its standard commercial warranty (if applicable) with its response. (xiv) Payment will be made by Government Bill of Lading (GBL). All procedures for payment by this method will be applicable to this contract. (xv) Responses are due by close of business (approximately 4:00 p.m. local time), August 31, 1999, at USDA Agricultural Research Service, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720 (or P.O. Box 5677, Athens, GA 30605-5677). Point of contact for this acquisition is Pat Lang, Procurement Technician, (706) 546-3533, (706)546-3444. Posted 08/15/99 (W-SN367984). (0227)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0096 19990818\V-0002.SOL)