Wet Chemical Analysis for 100 Alfalfa Samples

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Questions and Answers.

Q1: Will all 100 samples be received at once, or will they arrive in batches?

A1: No, they would come all at once

Q2: Will samples be shipped from 24106 N. Bunn Rd, Prosser, WA 99350?

A2: Yes, they will be shipped from this address.

Q3: The Statement of Work (SOW) states that the company will deliver data for the tests within six months of receipt of the dried leaf tissues. However, the Service Provisions document, under FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors, specifies that the required services are to be conducted over a 30-day period after receipt of order (ARO). Could you please confirm whether the services are to be completed within six months?

A3: Yes, services should be completed within six months, but there should be no reason why an analytical chemical lab would take any longer than 30 days once the samples were received and they began processing.

Q4: Are the methods outlined in the table below acceptable for the required tests?

A4: These are powdered/ground alfalfa samples. The wet chemistry analyses are for forage quality assessments. If the protocols listed are for that purpose, then yes they are acceptable.

Q5: Is there a specific requirement you are trying to meet? What is the purpose of testing?

A5: Yes, we are interested in calibrating our in-house Perkin Elmer FT 9700 NIR instrument for alfalfa forage quality testing. We have many samples we would like to evaluate/test for forage quality and when purchased, the instrument came with Perkin Elmer expertise time to develop a model/calibrated equation. We need some ‘control’ wet chemistry samples to work with the Perkin Elmer expert to develop this calibrated equation. David Honigs https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21279

Q6: Do you have a spec or method to be used for testing? (ASTM, ISO, MIL spec, etc.)

A6: I am not sure what this is asking, but the company we have worked with before and our lowest price quote (Cumberland Valley Analytical Services) has several accreditations and certifications. These include the National Forage Testing Association (NFTA) certification for chemistry and NIR.

Q7: Are there specific elements you are interested in testing for?

A7: Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu – these are the ones included in the CVAS quote and are the primary elements contributing to animal nutrition from alfalfa hay.

Q8: Do you have a detection limit?

A8: I don’t know the answer to this question. This is beyond my chemical analysis expertise.

Q9: Is your sample a solid, liquid, or powder?

A9: Ours samples are ground stem samples from alfalfa collected from field evaluations over a two-year period. Samples are ground on Wiley and cyclone mills.

Q10: What is the sample you plan to send for testing?

A10: Alfalfa, leaf from a plant, Dry and ground/powdered (Wiley and cyclone mill) alfalfa stem samples.

Q11: How many samples do you plan on submitting?

A11: We have ~2,500 samples of which 100 (~5%) are going to be submitted.

Q12: What is the base material of the sample?

A12: I think this is the alfalfa stem samples (lower ~15 cm) from field grown plants.

Q13: Approximate size/shape of the sample in question? (If solid)

A13: We would ‘normally’ ship these in small Ziplock bags.

Q14: who is required to collect the samples, is it the government or the contractor?

A14: They are in our possession now and not further ‘collecting’ is needed.

This is a Solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 8.4, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 1232SA25Q0565 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-03. The associated NAICS code is 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)) with a small business size standard of 1,000 Employees.

USDA, ARS, PGITRU

24106 N. Bunn Rd.

Prosser, WA 99350

Is looking for procurement of the Wet Chemical Analysis for 100 Alfalfa Samples which fits with the associated Statement of Work.

A site visit is scheduled to be determined (if needed). Vendors interested in attending the site visit must notify Lynn Hults at lynn.hults@usda.gov by to be determined to be added to the approved list.

The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract.

Each quote must show a breakdown giving price of each element, provide descriptive literature or information showing that the quoted services meet all parts of the Statement of Work.

Vendors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-2. The Government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforms to the RFQ and specifications using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) to the Government in accordance with FAR 8.405 considering two major areas: technical acceptance and price. Quotes will be evaluated by performing a comparative evaluation in accordance with FAR 8.405. Submission of quote shall include the following: (1) Technical Specifications and (2) Price (to include shipping).

The Technical aspects will be evaluated based on the ability to meet the minimum standards in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The proposals will be evaluated started at the lowest price first. If the lowest is not acceptable then the next lowest will be evaluated.

Technically Acceptable; Quote clearly meets the minimum requirements of the PWS.

Technically Unacceptable; Quote does not meet the minimum requirements of the PWS.

Electronic submissions are preferred. Please email all quotes to lynn.hults@usda.gov.

NO LATE QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

INSPECTON AND ACCEPTANCE TERMS: Supplies will be inspected by requiring office's technical representative and accepted at destination.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Department of Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) provisions and clauses that apply to this acquisition are in the attached document titled Service Provisions 1157580.

To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). A contractor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A UEI (Unique Entity ID) number is required in order to register. All invoices shall be submitted and paid electronically.

Quotes must be received no later than Friday, August 22, 2025, at 4:00 PM Central Standard Time.

Questions regarding this combined synopsis/solicitation are due no later than Tuesday August 19, 2025, by 3:00 PM Central Standard Time. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation.

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