PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES OR PROPOSALS, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited.

The USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, is conducting a Market Survey for the Plant Protection and Quarantine Program located in  Edinburg, TX. 

Item Description:  Wheat Germ Meal in accordance with specifications in  50 lb bags

Background

The Mexican Fruit Fly (MexFly) Rearing Facility for the last 28 years has been rearing fruit flies in the Rio Grande Valley. The current production of pupae is currently set at 150 million pupae per week. The Wheat Germ Meal is used as a vital source of protein in the diet for the larval development of the Mexican Fruit Fly. Currently there is no other product evaluated as effective as the Wheat Germ Meal.

Product Specifications.

Wheat Germ Meal

A. 25% Protein content (minimum)

B. 15% Moisture content (maximum)

C. Free of contaminants such as, but not limited to, parasitic worms or nematodes, parasites, fungi, bacteria, and yeast documented as harmful to insect rearing or associated with human disease

D. Free of pesticide/chemical residues that will adversely affect fruit fly production

 Current Quantity Needed

A Minimum of 3 Deliveries of 800 (50lb) Bags

 Packaging and Delivery.

Product shall be packaged in 50 pound paper bags. Each shipment shall be palletized and shrink wrapped on the pallet. The shrink wrapped pallets shall have not more than 40 bags per pallet.

Interested sources with a comparable product  are encouraged to complete and return Attachment 1  to the contracting officer via email only.  Telephonic inquiries will not be honored.  Please email all questions regarding subject item(s)  prior to Sources Sought closing date to [email protected].  This is not a request for competitive proposals, but instead a market research method to determine interested sources.  No requests for capability briefings will be honored as a result of this notice.    The Government will not award a contract based on the information received.   Any submission of  information or materials  will be provided on a strictly voluntary basis and are non reimbursable.

Please  Email  Attachment  1  to Carol Dingess at [email protected].   Please be sure to include notice # SS128003 on subject line.    Closing date for submissions of Statement’s of Capability is June 10, 2024 at 4:00PM (MT).

Anyone  wishing to do business  with the USDA must  be listed in the government’s System for Award Management  Registrar now known as SAM.  You may register on line with http://sam.gov  

A prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM   database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from a solicitation.  Vendors  may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through http://sam.gov   or by calling  the Contractors Registration  hotline @ 1-866-606-8220

****SAM REGISTRATION IS FREE****

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 311211 Flour Milling.   The Small Business Size Category is 1,000 Employees. 

The USDA buying activity is committed to participation of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business (including 8(a) participants), and women-owned small business concerns in the performance of work under solicitations and resultant contracts.

The Government intends to provide all information regarding this notice via this web site .   The Federal Government is not responsible for notifications to interested parties regarding notices, solicitations  or  amendments.  It is the responsibility of interested parties to check this web site  http://sam.gov  periodically for updates.    Telephone and email requests will not be accepted