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This special notice is in accordance with FAR 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Action. This is a notice of intent to make a sole source award and is not a solicitation or request for competitive quotes.

This award will be made utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with: Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deems only one source reasonably available.

The USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA has a need for 41 Pure-Bred Holstein Calves for use in Study of Vaccination of cattle with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG). Only one source has been found able to guarantee the required supply and has raised the calves to NADC specifications. USDA-ARS MWA Procurement Office in Peoria, IL on behalf of the NADC Office in Ames, IA intends to make a firm fixed price sole source award under the authority of FAR 13 106 l(b)(l)(i) under the authority of FAR 13.106-l(b)(l)(i), only one responsible source, to:

Superior Livestock, Inc.

3911 Cardinal Avenue,

Joice, IA 50446

The objective of this sole source award is to procure 41 Pure-Bred Holstein Calves which meet the following required specifications.

• Breed – must be purebred Holstein breed calves


• Age – Minimum 3 months and Maximum 3.5 months of age at the time of delivery. Date of Birth must be confirmed between USDA and Vendor PRIOR to animal arrival to USDA location in Ames, IA.


• Animals can be a mixture of male and female calves. Males will be castrated, dehorned and healed PRIOR to arrival. Females will not be bred.


• Animals should not receive any vaccinations for Brucellosis – specifically the RB51 vaccine.


• Calves must come from a Tuberculosis Free herd.


• Calves shall demonstrate no signs of clinical illness.


• Calves shall have sound legs and good eyes.


• No Ring Worm on any animal. This must be confirmed between USDA and Vendor PRIOR to arrival to USDA location in Ames, IA.


• No pink eye on any animal. This must be confirmed between USDA and Vendor PRIOR to arrival to USDA location in Ames, IA.


• Calves shall be sourced from the same farm.


• Calves must be sourced from a farm within 75 miles of Ames to limit transport time of the animals on the trailer for young animals.


• Pre-Purchase blood work may be requested from the time of award until the arrival of animals to confirm vaccination titer levels of animals PRIOR to arrival at USDA in Ames, IA.


• Calves cannot have any titer to Brucellosis and may need to be pre-purchase tested.


• Animal Resources Unit and the funding unit will exclude calves prior to arrival that do not meet the SOW requirements.


• To obtain 41 animals that meet the SOW specifications; the vendor may need to obtain a group larger than 41 to allow for alternate animals to replace any that become sick or do not meet the health requirements.


• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection Required on all animals.


• Animal shall be deliverable onsite in one delivery at USDA on or near October 16th, 2023.

To maintain calf genetic needs and agreeable travel distance, purchase from Superior Livestock, Inc. has been determined to be required. This is critical because these animals are being used in immunological studies which are very sensitive to animal to animal variation. Calves were purchased from Superior Livestock, Inc. for previous studies and the calves must be from the same source for this study as continuity of animals is critical to be able to compare between studies. Receiving all calves from the same vendor (Superior Livestock, Inc.) decreases the variability among individual animals because they will have all been exposed to the same environment.

As such, purchase from Superior Livestock, Inc. has been determined to be required as they are the only vendor available that meets all of the requirements outlined above.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 112990 (All Other Animal Production) with a small business size standard of $2.75 Million. The PSC code for this requirement is 8820. NO solicitation or solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotations; however, interested vendors that regard themselves as capable of providing a product that can fulfill the requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement by NO later than Thursday, August 31 (08/31/2023) at 2:00PM (CT) to Debora Wells at debora.wells@usda.gov. NO phone calls will be accepted. The e-mail subject line shall include: 12505B23Q0260NOITSS.

Any submission in response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence as well as be in sufficient enough detail to show that they can provide a product that would meet the Government’s need and that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement.

Again, this is NOT a request for competitive quotes. This notice is for informational purposes only. Responses received shall be considered by the agency; however, determination by the Government whether or not to compete this proposed award upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No reimbursement for any cost connected with providing capability information will be provided

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