SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION 12034318Q0303
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) and the documents incorporate provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-99-1.

This procurement is set aside for Total Small Business. The NAICS code is 322211 Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing, and the Small Business Size Standard is 1,250 employees average employment of a firm over three years.

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

Scope of Contract. The USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Coeur d'Alene Nursery requires tree seedling shipping bags and corrugated fiberboard boxes for use in tree seedling shipments.

Delivery and Location. All deliveries shall be made on regular working days (Monday through Friday) during working hours 7:00 to 11:30 AM and 12:00 to 4:00 PM. No deliveries will be accepted after 4:00 PM and on official Federal Government holidays. The Contractor shall notify the Coeur d'Alene Nursery at (208)-765-7375 at least 24 hours prior to delivery. Delivery is FOB destination to 3600 W. Nursery Road, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815.

Specifications.

Item 1. All bags furnished under this specification shall be 2-ply Linear Low-density Polyethylene, Co-Extruded, 28"x 14" x 38", 4-mils in thickness. HEAT-SEALED, PINCHED BOTTOM BAG. EXTERIOR layer to be bright white in color. INTERIOR layer to be reflective silver color.

Item 2. All fiberboard boxes furnished under this specification shall be fabricated in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials, (ASTM) Standard Practice for Fabrication of Fiberboard shipping boxes. D 5118/D 5118M

(a) Type--CF, Class--Domestic, Variety--SW, Grade 200, C-Flute.

(b) Style 
     (1) Top flap FOL (FULL OVERLAP)
     (2) 1" skip slot top flap only in the locations specified on Drawing #1 (attachment).
     (3) Bottom flap FOL.
     (4) Perforated (punch-out) oblong hand hold, 3-1/4" wide X 1" high, centered and positioned 3" from top of box. Punch-out shall be left in the hand hold. (NOT PUNCHED OUT).

(c) Inside dimensions
     (1) Length - 27-1/2 inches
     (2) Width - 13 inches
     (3) Depth - 12-1/2 inches

(d) Both the inside and outside layer must be 42 pound test and the medium layer must be 33 pound test, with waterproof adhesive glued construction.

(e) The target gap at the Manufacturer's Joint shall be 3/8 inches. The overlappped joint (joint tab) shall not be less than 1 ¼ inches wide with the length of the overlap equal to the inside depth of the box. The overlap joint shall be fastened with adhesive (as specified in ASTM D 5118/D 5118M, section 6.1.2.4 ).

(f) The Forest Service does not own the cutting die used to make the boxes from the sheet material.

Item 3. All wicket seedling bags furnished shall be clear vented bags, size 10" x 10" x 1.25-mil plastic. Vent holes will be ¼" in diameter and will be located on both sides at the bottom of the bag as shown in Drawing #3 (attachment). Bags should be attached to wire wickets, 250 bags per wicket. The wicket is 5" wide and each leg is 5" long.

Each bag should have 2 holes at the top that the wicket goes through. The bags tear off when pulled down after being filled with seedlings. The bags are hand fed with seedlings on a chicken bagging machine. The wicket inserts into the chicken bagger, a fan opens the top of the bag of the wicket stack, and the seedlings are slid into the bag by hand.

Packaging and Marking

(a) Printing. All boxes in Item 2 shall bear printing as outlined in Drawing #2 (attachment). The printing shall be one color dark green. The Forest Service will provide the printing die to the Contractor. The printing die is a flatbed die similar to a stencil.

The Contractor shall be responsible for returning printing die prepaid to the Coeur d'Alene Nursery, 3600 W. Nursery Road, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815, after all printing is completed.

There is no printing required on the bags only the boxes.

(b) Shipping.

     (1) Boxes (Item 2) shall be delivered on pallets. Pallets shall be uniform in size, 40 inches wide and 40 inches long. Boxes shall be stacked 125 per pallet in one stack and secured to the pallet with plastic binding.

     (2) Bags (Item 1) can be delivered in gaylords or in boxes that are on pallets and secured with shrink-wrap. The preferred case pack for large bags is 75-100 per case.

     (3) Wicket Seedling Bags (Item 3) can be delivered in boxes that are on pallets and secured with shrink-wrap. The preferred case pack for seedling baggies is 250 per wicket.

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). The Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) is a secure, Web-based service that more efficiently manages Government invoicing from purchase order through payment notification at no charge to federal agencies and their vendors. The Forest Service is utilizing IPP for the electronic submission and tracking of contracts/purchase orders, invoices, and payment information. Payment through IPP is an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) into the Contractor's bank account.

Upon award of a contract, Contractors must enroll at https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/enrollment-vendors.htm.  Contractors shall submit all invoices electronically via IPP. Paper copies of invoices will no longer be accepted. However, an itemized paper copy invoice can be uploaded in IPP.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR Chapter 1 CLAUSES)

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (JAN 2017)
52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000)
52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or
Executive Orders-Commercial Items (NOV 2017)
     52.204-10 Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards
(OCT 2016)
     52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with
Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (OCT 2015)
(31 U.S.C. 6101 note)
     52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644)
     52.219-28 Post Award Small Business Program Re-representation (JUL 2013)
(15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2))
     52.222-3 Convict Labor (JUNE 2003) (E.O. 11755)
     52.222-19 Child Labor - Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (OCT 2016)
(E.O. 13126)
     52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015)
     52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (SEPT 2016) (E.O. 11246)
     52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUL 2014)
(29 U.S.C. 793)
     52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons (MAR 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and
E.O. 13627)
     52.222-55 Minimum Wages under Executive Order 13658 (DEC 2015)
     52.222-62 Paid Sick Leave under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706)
     52.223-18 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving
(AUG 2011) (E.O. 13513)
     52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management
(JUL 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332)

ADDENDA TO FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items

52.211-16 Variation in Quantity (Apr 1984)
(a) A variation in the quantity of any item called for by this contract will not be accepted unless the variation has been caused by conditions of loading, shipping, or packing, or allowances in manufacturing processes, and then only to the extent, if any, specified in paragraph (b) of this clause.
(b) The permissible variation shall be limited to:
10 Percent increase
10 Percent decrease
This increase or decrease shall apply to each quantity specified in the delivery schedule.

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, OR ATTACHMENTS

The following attachments are part of this solicitation and any resulting contract (see separate documents).

1. Schedule of Items, 1 page
2. Drawings, 3 pages
    •  Box Skip Slot Location - Drawing #1, page 1 of 3
    • Wicket Seedling Bag - Drawing #2, page 2 of 3
    • Box Label Printing - Drawing #3, page 3 of 3

SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

AGAR 452.204-70 Inquiries (FEB 1988)
Inquiries and all correspondence concerning this solicitation should be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer. Quoters should contact only the Contracting Officer issuing the solicitation about any aspect of this requirement prior to contract award.

INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO QUOTERS

System for Award Management (SAM).  In order to be eligible for a contract award under this solicitation, quoters must have an active registration in the System for Award Management via www.sam.gov.

The System for Award Management (SAM) is an official website of the U.S. Government. There is no cost to use SAM. You can use the site for FREE.

Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).  For questions concerning SAM registration, certifications, or assistance with preparing quotes, contact the PTAC office in your area. Services are FREE.

In Idaho contact the Boise office:

Lee Velten
Idaho PTAC Program Analyst
(208) 426-1742
[email protected]

Gary Moore
Program Manager
(208) 426-1741
[email protected]

In Montana contact the Kalispell office:

Doug Bolender (406) 257-7711 x5 or [email protected]

EVALUATION OF QUOTATIONS
One award will be made.  Award will be made to the responsible vendor whose quote conforms to the elements of this Request for Quotation and provides the best value to the Government, as determined by the Contracting Officer, considering but not limited to, such factors as experience, past performance, and price.

SUBMISSION OF QUOTES
Request for Quotations will be accepted NO LATER THAN 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on August 10, 2018. For information regarding this solicitation, please contact Contracting Officer Marion Daniel at 208-765-7282 or [email protected].

Submit the following as your Quote:  Schedule of Items with pricing and lead time for boxes/bags manufacturing (1 page attachment)

Submission Methods:
Email:  [email protected]  (preferred method)
Fax:     208-765-7229 (confirm receipt)
Mail:    USDA Forest Service
ATTN:  Marion Daniel, Contracting Officer
           3815 Schreiber Way
           Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815

Bid Protests Not Available