1232SA26Q1079 Questions/Responses Posted Dry Bean Winter Nursery USDA-ARS-MWA East Lansing MI

This government document (1232SA26Q1079) outlines contractor questions and agency responses regarding a solicitation for a Dry Bean Winter Nursery. It specifies that the seed plots must be planted in an open-field agricultural setting rather than a greenhouse to allow for the selection of superior breeding lines. Additionally, because the project requires travel by U.S. government officials, any locations designated as "Do Not Travel" regions by the U.S. Department of State will be excluded from consideration.

This federal Request for Quotation (RFQ), solicitation number 1232SA26Q1079, is issued by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Southeast Area (SEA) Administrative Advisory Office (AAO). The solicitation seeks a contractor to provide Dry Bean Winter Nursery services for the USDA-ARS Mid-West Area (MWA) Sugarbeet and Bean Research unit located in East Lansing, Michigan. The acquisition is conducted as an unrestricted solicitation under NAICS code 111130 (Dry Pea and Bean Farming). The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed-price contract. The required services include seed collection and production (Product/Service Code F009) to be performed in accordance with the attached Scope of Work. The contract structure consists of a base year and four subsequent one-year option periods: - Base Year Period of Performance: October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027 - Option Year 1: October 1, 2027, to September 30, 2028 - Option Year 2: October 1, 2028, to September 30, 2029 - Option Year 3: October 1, 2029, to September 30, 2030 - Option Year 4: October 1, 2030, to September 30, 2031 Offers are due by September 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central Time. Because the exact place of performance is initially unknown, the Service Contract Labor Standards apply, and offerors may request applicable Department of Labor Wage Determinations for their specific locations. Invoices must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

This solicitation document (1232SA26Q1079, Attachment I) outlines the terms and conditions for a federal contract to provide a dry bean winter nursery in a warm climate area. The nursery will support the USDA-ARS Sugar Beet and Bean Research Unit (SBRU) in East Lansing, Michigan, by advancing breeding materials by a generation over the winter to accelerate breeding progress. The USDA intends to award a single, firm-fixed-price contract featuring a one-year base period and four one-year option periods, not to exceed a total duration of five years. Evaluation will be conducted using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method, where quotes are assessed on price, technical acceptability (demonstrating the capability to fulfill the Scope of Work), and past performance. The solicitation is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 111130, with a small business size standard of $2.8 million. Because the exact place of performance is currently unknown, the contract is subject to Service Contract Labor Standards, with San Juan, Puerto Rico, identified as a potential performance location. Offerors must request any additional wage determinations at least two days before the solicitation closes. Key administrative terms include strict anti-discrimination and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) compliance certifications, limitations on unenforceable supplier terms, and USDA-specific agency protest procedures. Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted via email to theodore.blume@usda.gov by September 16, 2026.

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Sugar Beet and Bean Research Unit (SBRU) in East Lansing, Michigan, has issued a Scope of Work to procure winter nursery services in Puerto Rico. The purpose of this contract is to advance breeding materials for SBRU’s dry bean breeding program by a generation over the winter, thereby accelerating the release of improved germplasm. The contractor will be responsible for receiving 500 to 800 bean seed samples from SBRU, preparing and mapping the field, treating the seed, and planting them in 10-foot rows by December 2026. Throughout the growing season, the contractor must apply best agronomic practices—including irrigation, fertilization, tillage, and pest and weed management—to ensure a healthy crop while strictly maintaining sample identity and preventing cross-contamination. The crop must be harvested by March 2027 and shipped back to SBRU in East Lansing, Michigan, by April 2027. Security measures require the contractor to protect the plots from unauthorized harvesting and prohibit keeping any remaining seed. The contract features a one-year base period with four one-year option periods, for a total duration not to exceed five years. SBRU will furnish all seeds for planting, and the contractor must provide a Field Technician as key personnel to oversee the operations.

This document is a Request for Information (RFI) template (designated as Attachment III) for an upcoming federal procurement. Issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific West Area (USDA-ARS-PWA), the solicitation is for the "Dry Bean Winter Nursery" project (Solicitation Number 1232SA26Q1079). The project is associated with the USDA-ARS-MWA Sugar Beet and Bean Research unit located in East Lansing, Michigan. The template outlines the mandatory procedure for contractors submitting questions or requests for clarification regarding the solicitation, specifications, or drawings. To receive a response, contractors must specifically identify the relevant specification, solicitation section, or drawing number in their submission. RFIs must be emailed to the designated Contracting Officer, Theodore Blume, with a standardized subject line format. Official government replies to these inquiries will be formally issued via solicitation amendments, which offerors are solely responsible for retrieving and acknowledging.

This document is Attachment IV to Request for Proposal (RFP) # 1232SA26Q1079 for the USDA-ARS-MWA East Lansing. It consists of a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) designed to evaluate a contractor's historical performance on previous projects. The document is divided into two primary sections: - **Section 1 (Completed by the Contractor):** Gathers basic contract metadata, including the contractor's name, client organization, project name, contract/task order number, a brief description of support services provided, total period of performance, overall cost, and staffing details. It also requires contact details for the client's Technical Point of Contact (POC). - **Section 2 (Completed by the Client POC):** Contains evaluation metrics where the client rates the contractor on performance areas such as overall technical performance, quality of work, schedule adherence, and cost control. Ratings range from "Excellent" to "Poor." Additionally, it asks if the contractor proactively mitigated risks and whether the client would hire the company again. Contractors are instructed to complete Section 1, send the form to their past clients for verification and scoring in Section 2, and have the clients return the completed form directly to the USDA procurement contact via email to expedite the evaluation process.

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