This is a Sources Sought Notice for market research information only to be used for planning purposes.  No quotes are being requested at this time.  THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR QUTOES AND NO CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED FROM THIS NOTICE.  Any quotes in response to this notice will not be honored.  The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of various members of the Small Business Community which includes Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Women-Owned Small Business and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 112920, Horse and Other Equine Production.  The Small Business Size Standard is $750,000.  The Olympic National Recreation Area, National Park Service, may have an upcoming request to solicit and may award a firm fixed priced contract for the purchase and delivery of 4-6 mules. 

The Olympic National Park has 19 head of stock that are used to support trail maintenance, backcountry structure maintenance, rangers operations and resource management research throughout the park.  The park has 972,000 acres of which over 95% is designated wilderness.  The park is not traversed by any roads; so many sections of the park's 620 miles of trails required traveling over 20 miles to access.  The park's wilderness status prevents mechanized support such as helicopters, for work.  So the bulk of trail maintenance is supported by materials, tools and equipment that are packed by mules.  Additionally, the mules pack food, tents and supplies for trail crew to work in remote locations where the majority of trail maintenance occurs.  Packers usually work alone and travel more than 30 miles a day with strings of 4-5 mules and loads exceeding 140 pounds in the performance of pack support.  So, when selecting mules for work, load capacity, reliability, health, temperament and expected life of the mules are critical factors that will ensure reliable and safe pack support.  The minimum requirements are as follows:

Acceptable Coggins Certificate and Vaccination Record

Minimum height 14/2 hands

Max Age 12

Previous pack and saddle training

Positive response to human interaction

Mild temperament

Minimum weight 1000 lbs

Hoof structure and sound anatomy

Fluid Gait and pace

Responses to this Sources Sought Notice should demonstrate the contractor's ability, capability and responsibility to provide the mules listed above.  In response to this notice, interested parties shall submit a written Statement of Capability limited to 2 pages and shall include the following information:

•   * Offeror's name, address, point of contact, phone number, email address and DUNS#.

•   * Offeror's interest in providing a quote should the solicitation be issued.

•   * Offeror's capability to meet the requirements.

     * Offeror's small business type and whether they qualify for a socio-economic category (i.e 8(a), HUB-Zone, Women-Owned Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, etc)

Email this information to [email protected] by March 14, 2018, 4:00pm PT.  

Responses to this Sources Sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions.  No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any follow up information requested.  The Government is not obligated to, or will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought notice.  This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.  The Government may be determine to cancel this solicitation/acquisition in its entirety.