NEW BALE PRESS AND CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH SCISSOR LIFT-TILT TABLE FOR THE USDA, AMS, COTTON & TOBACCO PROGRAM MEMPHIS, TN COTTON CLASSING OFFICE

The USDA, AMS, Cotton Program requires the removal of the existing bale press and the delivery and installation of a new full eject bale press and automated conveyor system with a scissor lift-tilt table to be delivered and installed at the Memphis Classing Office. The USDA also requests quotes for disassembling and removing the existing bale press at the Memphis Classing Office located at the following address:

Cotton and Tobacco Program

Cotton Division

3275 Appling Rd

Memphis, TN 38133

The Contractor must furnish all labor, materials, equipment, parts, permits, insurance, supervision and transportation necessary to complete the removal of the existing system and the delivery and installation of the entirety of the new system specified within the Statement of Work (SOW) and provide on-going maintenance service necessary to maintain the equipment in good operating condition, including routine/preventive maintenance, scheduled inspections. These systems must be maintained at optimum efficiency in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.

Site Visit: A site visit may be scheduled by contacting the following:

Kevin Letbetter

Memphis Quality Assurance Director

e-mail: kevin.letbetter@usda.gov

phone: 901-384-3139

Attendance to the site visit is not a mandatory prerequisite of submitting a quotation in response to this solicitation, though Vendors are encouraged to make an on-site, in-depth review of the facility, equipment, job requirements, etc. prior to submitting a quotation. Vendors will not be reimbursed for any time or costs associated with attending the optional site visit.

Evaluation of Quotes: The following factors will be utilized to evaluate quotations:

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Award will be issued to the Vendor whose quote is determined to provide best value to the Government, price and other (technical) factors considered. Technical factors, including the Technical Approach Narrative (Factor 1), Experience & Past Performance (Factor 2), when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price (Factor 3).

• Factor 1: Technical Approach Narrative – This Factor considers the Technical Approach Narrative submitted by the Vendor.
  • Factor 1 Instructions - The Technical Approach Narrative submitted with the Vendor’s quotation must address the entire system and scope of the services required and must demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements of this Statement of Work. The Technical Approach Narrative submitted by the Vendor must not exceed ten (10) pages in length, including pictures and tables. The Technical Approach Narrative submitted by the Vendor with their quotation must include the following:
• A milestone chart of the removal of the existing bale press system and the delivery and installation of the new bale press system.
• All drawings, operations and technical manuals that detail the operation and components and demonstrate that the bale press meets the requirements of all of the items detailed within Section C.4 SPECIFICATIONS.
• All drawings, operations and technical manuals that detail the operation and components and demonstrate that the scissor lift-tilt meets the requirements of all of the items detailed within Section C.4 SPECIFICATIONS.
• All drawings, operations and technical manuals that detail the operation and components and demonstrate that the conveyor system meets the requirements of all of the items detailed within Section C.4 SPECIFICATIONS.
• Detail how the tasks listed in Section C.5 TASKS of the Statement of Work will be performed.
• Detail how the training described in Section C.6 TRAINING of the Statement of Work will be provided.
• Detail the warranty for the entire system (ref. Section C.7 WARRANTY)
• Approach to provide full maintenance services as detailed within SECTION C.8 MAINTENANCE for the bale press, scissor lift-tilt table, and conveyor system.

• Factor 2: Experience and Past Performance – Experience and Past Performance will be evaluated for all projects submitted to demonstrate similar experience to ascertain the probability of successfully performing the required efforts of the Statement of Work.

The past performance evaluation will be specifically based upon the satisfactory completion of services performed compared to the services required under this solicitation, the record of conforming to contract requirements and standards of good workmanship, and the commitment to customer satisfaction. The Past Performance evaluation will also consider any past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience or subcontractors that performed major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant. For joint ventures, past performance records of both firms will be considered. In the case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the offeror will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.

• • Factor 2 Instructions - Vendors must use “Attachment 2 – Vendor Experience & Past Performance Sheet” and include a minimum of two (2) but no more than five (5) references for experience with projects of the same or similar service and magnitude. Each project must have been performed within the past five (5) years from the date of this solicitation. Vendors must complete the “Customer Identification” section within the attachment for each project referenced.
• Factor 3: Price – The resulting award will be a Firm Fixed-Price IDIQ contract. The Government may use various price analysis techniques and procedures to evaluate price reasonableness.

The awarded firm-fixed-price for Standard Services (Section 1.1) during Ordering Period 1 will serve as the minimum guarantee under this IDIQ Contract.

• • Factor 3 Instructions - Vendors must utilize the “Attachment 1 - Price Quotation Spreadsheet” that is attached to the solicitation to submit their price quotation.
• Miscellaneous Documents: This is not an evaluation factor. However, failure to submit completed, required documents may result in the Vendor’s quotation being considered non-responsive and eliminated from further award consideration.
  • Miscellaneous Documents Quotation Submission Instructions: In addition to submitting a complete technical quotation (Factors 1 through 3), and completed price quotation (Factor 4) as required for the evaluated factors, the Vendor must submit the following other documents:
    • Standard Form (SF) 1449 (Vendor must complete Blocks 17a., 30a., 30b., and 30c. on page 1 of the SF 1449).
    • Standard Form (SF) 30 (Vendor must acknowledge amendments to the solicitation, if any are issued, by completing Blocks 8., 15A., 15B., and 15C. on page 1 of the SF 30).
    • Attachment 1 - Vendor Quotation Form.
    • Attachment 2 - Vendor Experience and Past Performance Sheet.
    • Attachment 3 - Vendor FAR Representations Solicitation 12639525Q0161.
    • Exhibits 1 throough 5 - Pictures of Existing Baling System to be Removed

The resulting award will be a Firm Fixed-Price contract. The Government may use various price analysis techniques and procedures to evaluate price reasonableness.

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

Instructions to Vendors:

All Vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov).  The Vendor’s SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) must be specified within the quotation (Attachment 1).

The UEI will be utilized to obtain the Contractor’s SAM.gov Federal Contractors Registration within the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-7. The Contractor’s registration within SAM must be current and active in SAM at time of quote and award. The online SAM Certification and Representations for business size determination must qualify as a small business in accordance with the applicable NAICS code 333111 – Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (2022 NAICS), with a Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard of 1,250 employees. The applicable Product Service Code (PSC) is 3720.

Please note that registering in the SAM database is free of charge. Free SAM registration assistance can be obtained by calling the help desk toll free at 866-606-8220. Free assistance can also be found via Apex Accelerators; please visit the following website to find a center: https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/.

Vendors must submit the following documents to the Contract Specialist, Matthew Phillips via e-mail at Matthew.Phillips3@usda.gov prior to the closing time/date of the solicitation as stated within SAM.gov. Please be aware that the size of the email may take longer to send. If over 2MB, you may need to send more than one email. Please make sure that you receive an email back from the Contract Specialist stating that it has been received:

• Completed and signed copy of SF1449 (Posted as an attachment with the solicitation on www.sam.gov).
• Standard Forms (SF) 30 (If any Amendments are issued)
• Completed Attachment 1 – Vendor Quotation Form
• Completed Attachment 2 - Vendor Experience and Past Performance Sheet
• Completed Attachment 3 - Vendor FAR Representations Solicitation 12639525Q0161 (Note: Attachment 3 does not relate to an evaluation factor for award; however, failure to submit a completed Attachment 3 may render a Vendor’s quote ineligible for an award).