2024 Universal Cotton Standards Conference for USDA, AMS, Cotton & Tobacco Program

Requirement The USDA, AMS Cotton and Tobacco (C&T) Program hosts a Universal Cotton Standards Conference no more than once every four years. The conference is scheduled on June 25 – 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. USDA intends to issue a firm fixed-price purchase order to a Vendor for the conference venue and to reserve a 100-Room Block (rooms to be reserved and paid by individual travelers) in Memphis. The conference and meeting services must include:

Meeting and lodging space according to requests and preferences specified herein. Audio visual equipment as specified herein. Beverage and light refreshment services for the meetings. USDA intends to award one (1) firm fixed-price purchase order. Schedule Notes The Vendor must ensure designated spaces for the 2024 Universal Cotton Standards Conference are properly prepared for meetings as outlined within the Conference/Meeting Room Requirements Table within this Statement of Work.

Evaluations Factors for Award and Required Submittals The resulting award will be made to the response that is determined to be the Best Value to the federal government in accordance with FAR Part 13 where the following factors will be considered: The Government will award a firm fixed-price purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Vendor whose quote, conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

It is a Vendor's responsibility to submit a well-written quote, with adequately detailed information, which clearly demonstrates compliance with the solicitation requirements and allows for a meaningful review by the procuring agency. Technical Capabilities - The Vendor shall complete and submit the Attachment 1 – Vendor Quotation Form. This form will be evaluated to determine if the Vendor is capable of meeting the 2024 Universal Cotton Standards Conference criteria for a suitable venue.

Experience: The Vendor must submit a minimum of two (2) but no more than five (5) separate projects within the last 5 years of the closing date of this solicitation that details experience that is similar to the scope and magnitude of this requirement. Vendors shall complete Attachment 2 - Vendor Experience Sheet, and submit a completed sheet for each project referenced.

Past Performance: Past Performance will be evaluated for the projects submitted for the experience factor. The Vendor shall include complete contact information for each customer for each project submitted within the Attachment 2 - Vendor Experience Sheet. The government reserves the right to contact references to verify any information provided. In the case of a Vendor without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the Vendor’s quotation will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.

Price: The Vendor shall submit their price quotation by utilizing the Attachment 1 – Vendor Quotation Form attached to this solicitation. The Vendor shall only fill in the blue shaded areas of the form. Technical factors and past performance, when combined, are about equal when compared to price. To be considered responsive, the Vendor must submit the following:

Completed SF-1449 AND signed AMENDMENT 0001 Completed “Attachment 1 – Solicitation 12639524Q0042 Vendor Quotation Form”. VENDORS SHALL COMPLETE EVERY BLUE-SHADED CELL. Completed “Attachment 2 – Solicitation 12639524Q0042 Vendor Experience Sheet”. Questions Questions may be submitted to Matthew Phillips at Matthew.Phillips3@usda.gov. Questions submitted via phone will be directed to submit via email for tracking and clarity purposes. Questions may be submitted until December 27, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. CT.

The Government is not required to answer questions submitted after the deadline. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS DOCUMENT. Contracting Officer and/or Technical POC Questions regarding contractual issues shall be directed to:

Contracting Officer: Matthew Phillips (479)

301-8811 Matthew.Phillips3@usda.gov Supervisory Contracting Officer: Leah Schultz (612) 336-3625 Leah.h.schultz@usda.gov