SAM #1232SA26SS1174122

USDA ARS Seeks Winter Nursery Services for Dry Bean Breeding in Puerto Rico

USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Sugar Beet and Bean Research Unit in East Lansing, Michigan is seeking sources for winter nursery services in Puerto Rico to advance dry bean breeding materials. - Government Buyer: - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Agricultural Research Service (ARS) - Sugar Beet and Bean Research Unit (SBRU), East Lansing, MI - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors named; seeking qualified service providers - Products/Services Requested: - Winter nursery services for dry bean breeding - Planting bean seeds from 500 to 800 entries in 10-foot rows - Crop maintenance: water, fertilizer, weed management - Bulk harvesting seeds by row - Shipping harvested seeds back to East Lansing, MI - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Services must be performed in Puerto Rico - Respondents must demonstrate capability and relevant experience - No products or part numbers specified; only agricultural services requested - Intended to advance breeding materials by one generation over the winter - No administrative or procedural details included

Description

This is a Sources Sought notice Only.  This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.  This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only as part of USDA ARS market research and does not itself constitute an RFQ. This requirement is covered under NAICS code 111421 with a small business size of $3.2M. Responses may suggest alternative NAICS for considers. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified sources; Small Businesses; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small business; 8(a) small business; veteran-owned small business; woman-owned small business; or small disadvantaged businesses; Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

Procure a winter nursery in Puerto Rico to support the ARS Sugar Beet and Bean Research Unit (SBRU), East Lansing, MI dry bean breeding program. The winter nursery is used to advance breeding materials by a generation over the winter, which greatly speeds up breeding progress. Bean seeds from an estimated 500 to 800 entries will be shipped from East Lansing to Puerto Rico in September 2026 for planting in the winter nursery.  Seed must be planted by December 2026. Seeds from each entry should be planted in 10 ft rows. Bean plants must be well-maintained during the growing season with sufficient water, fertilizer, and weed management to produce a healthy crop.  Seed should be bulk harvested via row and shipped back to East Lansing, MI by April 2027.

The Government does not intend to make an award based on responses to this inquiry. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government.

Capability Statement

All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this work should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer.  Capability statements shall include the Contractors contact point to discuss their response.

The capability statement should include:

1)  Acknowledgement that they are able to provide the subject supplies/services being requested;

2) Interested vendors should identify their size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration;

3) At least three previous requirements that are similar to the requirement include a discussion of the Contract type, delivery method, duration, etc.;

4) Any other information considered relevant to this requirement; and

5) The government requests that no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in the response.

Any vendor responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine their qualifications to perform the work.  Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.  After review of the responses received, a combined synopsis/solicitation may be published on sam.gov depending on the responses received.

All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be received by the notice’s POC by the deadline in order to be considered. Responses may not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Inquiry. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Request.

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