{"canonical":"https://abierto.us/opportunities/12805b24q0479","key":"12805B24Q0479","url":"https://abierto.us/opportunities/12805b24q0479","title":"Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at NBAF","solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","notice_type":"p","open":false,"response_deadline":"2024-08-19T18:00:00Z","first_posted":"2024-07-22","last_posted":"2024-08-14","department":"AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF","subagency":"AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE","office":"USDA ARS PA AAO ACQ/PER PROP","naics":"541690","psc":"R499","set_aside":null,"place_state":"KS","place_county":"20161","place_county_name":"Riley County","place_city":"2044250","place_city_name":"Manhattan","winner":"MERRICK & COMPANY","award_amount":null,"publications":[{"notice_id":"f72f47841e484c3f8cad96893740aaef","title":"Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at NBAF","solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","notice_type":"r","base_type":"r","posted":"2024-07-22","posted_at":null,"due_at":"2024-07-25T21:00:00Z","due_date":"2024-07-25","cancelled":null,"archived":null,"archive_date":"2024-08-09","award_number":null,"awardee_name":null,"amount":null,"link_sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/f72f47841e484c3f8cad96893740aaef/view","enriched":false,"history":[]},{"notice_id":"5c3812f2a0534c5b83403c9eb55c904e","title":"Rancher Outreach Plan for Southwest Climate Hub","solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","notice_type":"k","base_type":"k","posted":"2024-08-02","posted_at":null,"due_at":"2024-08-06T21:00:00Z","due_date":"2024-08-06","cancelled":null,"archived":null,"archive_date":"2024-08-07","award_number":null,"awardee_name":null,"amount":null,"link_sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/5c3812f2a0534c5b83403c9eb55c904e/view","enriched":false,"history":[]},{"notice_id":"e5bc748849c540c5baa59090b63c6a88","title":"Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at NBAF","solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","notice_type":"p","base_type":"r","posted":"2024-08-14","posted_at":null,"due_at":"2024-08-19T18:00:00Z","due_date":"2024-08-19","cancelled":null,"archived":null,"archive_date":"2024-08-20","award_number":null,"awardee_name":null,"amount":null,"link_sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/e5bc748849c540c5baa59090b63c6a88/view","enriched":false,"history":[]}],"latest_notice_id":"e5bc748849c540c5baa59090b63c6a88","first_type":"r","notices":[{"dates":{"posted":"2024-07-22","response_deadline":{"raw":"2024-07-25T17:00:00-04:00","utc":"2024-07-25T21:00:00Z","date":"2024-07-25","time":"17:00:00","utc_offset_seconds":-14400}},"links":{"sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/f72f47841e484c3f8cad96893740aaef/view"},"naics":{"codes":["541690"],"primary":"541690"},"title":"Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at NBAF","agency":{"office":{"code":"12805B","name":"USDA ARS PA AAO ACQ/PER PROP"},"subtier":{"code":"12H2","name":"AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE"},"department":{"code":"012","name":"AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF"},"office_address":{"zip":"80526","city":"FORT COLLINS","state":"CO","country":"USA"},"organization_type":"OFFICE"},"status":{"active":false,"archive_date":"2024-08-09","archive_type":"auto15"},"contacts":[{"name":"Brian Workman","role":"primary","email":"Brian.Workman@usda.gov"}],"base_type":{"code":"r","label":"Sources Sought"},"notice_id":"f72f47841e484c3f8cad96893740aaef","provenance":{"extract":{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/falextracts/Contract%20Opportunities/Archived%20Data/FY2024_archived_opportunities.csv","etag":"\"d582488fe153a9f11bf629913d176ffc-137\"","fetched_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z","row_sha256":"1a58ea1a4cd1649785599629827cacab990cee63451b2573b566aeaca571eb06","last_modified":"2026-09-13T14:47:40Z"},"updated_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z","first_seen_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z"},"description":{"text":"This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, KS currently intends to award a follow-on contract for continued Master Plan Reach Back Support services utilizing confidential information not available to the public on an SOLE SOURCE basis, but is seeking vendors that may be able to perform this unique requirement in order to possibly support a competitive procurement. The services include ongoing support for the maintenance of the Power BI Dashboard. The proposed action is a sole source Firm Fixed-Price contract to Merrick & Company. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this Sources Sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses or procured through full and open unrestricted competition. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions. DISCLAIMER THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the USDA to contract for any supply or service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this Sources Sought notice. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. However, if a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Governmentwide Point of Entry. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Governmentwide Point of Entry for additional information pertaining to this requirement. In response to this sources sought, please provide: Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, SAM UEI number, CAGE code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code; Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability; Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or solution solutions. Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion; Any other information considered relevant to this requirement; and The government requests that no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in the response. Any vendor responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine their qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After review of the responses received, a combined synopsis/solicitation may be published on sam.gov depending on the responses received. All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be received by the notice’s POC by the deadline to be considered. Responses may not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Inquiry. Do not submit pricing information in response to this notice.","origin":"extract"},"notice_type":{"code":"r","label":"Sources Sought"},"schema_version":1,"solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","place_of_performance":{"zip":"66502","city":{"name":"Manhattan"},"state":{"code":"KS"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"product_service_code":"R499"},{"dates":{"posted":"2024-08-02","response_deadline":{"raw":"2024-08-06T17:00:00-04:00","utc":"2024-08-06T21:00:00Z","date":"2024-08-06","time":"17:00:00","utc_offset_seconds":-14400}},"links":{"sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/5c3812f2a0534c5b83403c9eb55c904e/view"},"naics":{"codes":["541690"],"primary":"541690"},"title":"Rancher Outreach Plan for Southwest Climate Hub","agency":{"office":{"code":"12805B","name":"USDA ARS PA AAO ACQ/PER PROP"},"subtier":{"code":"12H2","name":"AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE"},"department":{"code":"012","name":"AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF"},"office_address":{"zip":"80526","city":"FORT COLLINS","state":"CO","country":"USA"},"organization_type":"OFFICE"},"status":{"active":false,"archive_date":"2024-08-07","archive_type":"auto_custom"},"contacts":[{"name":"Brian Workman","role":"primary","email":"Brian.Workman@usda.gov"}],"base_type":{"code":"k","label":"Combined Synopsis/Solicitation"},"notice_id":"5c3812f2a0534c5b83403c9eb55c904e","provenance":{"extract":{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/falextracts/Contract%20Opportunities/Archived%20Data/FY2024_archived_opportunities.csv","etag":"\"d582488fe153a9f11bf629913d176ffc-137\"","fetched_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z","row_sha256":"c534a1e72f0bd1328a482b7e798f167021952867480ad3d7931bc24f87c81b1c","last_modified":"2026-09-13T14:47:40Z"},"updated_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z","first_seen_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z"},"description":{"text":"This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial item prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6 and FAR Part 13, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested. The solicitation number is 12805B24Q0535 and is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This solicitation document incorporates those provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-06. The associated NAICS Code is 513120 and the Small Business Size Standard is 1,000 employees. The USDA Agricultural Research Service is seeking support to gather producer insights via a digitally-focused communications program aimed at promoting the Southwest Climate Hub (SWCH) tools to better understand the approaches that resonate, amongst which farmers, in order to make a FY25 data driven recommendation. The requirements are further detailed in the attached Requirements Document. The place of performance is: Virtual DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN QUOTE: 1) Transmittal Summary Letter. A summary cover letter to the submission should provide at a minimum the following (i) Identification of the Point of Contact, current phone number, and email address. (ii) SamUEI Number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number (TIN) (iii) A list of the submission package contents. 2) Fully completed and signed SF30 for any and all amendment(s) (if applicable), with blocks 15a, 15b, and 15c completed. Failure to acknowledge all amendments will result in the offer to be found Non-Responsive and not eligible for award. 3) Contractor Quote pricing document. Offeror shall submit, at a minimum, a separate pricing document with breakdown of pricing and milestone/payment schedule for each Deliverable (Phase I and Phase II), as defined in the PWS. 4) Technical Proposal. The offeror shall describe their proposed approach in sufficient detail for the Government to understand and evaluate the nature of the approach, and the contractor’s capability to complete the tasks and provide the deliverables required by the PWS. Any amendment and documents related to this procurement will be available electronically at the Government Point of Entry (sam.gov). FAR clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-2, 52.212-3, 52.212-4 and 52.212-5 (and any addenda to those clauses) are included in the attached clauses and provisions document. Additionally, other contract requirements and terms/conditions can be located in the same document. The Government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforms to the specifications that will be the most advantageous to the Government in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 considering three major areas: technical acceptance, past performance and price. Quotes will be evaluated by performing a comparative evaluation in accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3) to determine which quote meets the lowest price technically acceptable evaluation methodology. All sources wishing to quote shall furnish a quotation no later than 1700 ET on or before August 6, 2024. Quotations are to be sent via email to Brian Workman at Brian.Workman@usda.gov. Failure to provide the required information in the requested format may result in quotes not being considered for award. Attached Provisions/Clauses apply to this RFQ and any subsequent award.","origin":"extract"},"notice_type":{"code":"k","label":"Combined Synopsis/Solicitation"},"schema_version":1,"solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","place_of_performance":{"zip":"88003","city":{"name":"Las Cruces"},"state":{"code":"NM"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"product_service_code":"R499"},{"dates":{"posted":"2024-08-14","response_deadline":{"raw":"2024-08-19T14:00:00-04:00","utc":"2024-08-19T18:00:00Z","date":"2024-08-19","time":"14:00:00","utc_offset_seconds":-14400}},"links":{"sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/e5bc748849c540c5baa59090b63c6a88/view"},"naics":{"codes":["541690"],"primary":"541690"},"title":"Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at NBAF","agency":{"office":{"code":"12805B","name":"USDA ARS PA AAO ACQ/PER PROP"},"subtier":{"code":"12H2","name":"AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE"},"department":{"code":"012","name":"AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF"},"office_address":{"zip":"80526","city":"FORT COLLINS","state":"CO","country":"USA"},"organization_type":"OFFICE"},"status":{"active":false,"archive_date":"2024-08-20","archive_type":"auto_custom"},"contacts":[{"name":"Brian Workman","role":"primary","email":"Brian.Workman@usda.gov"}],"base_type":{"code":"r","label":"Sources Sought"},"notice_id":"e5bc748849c540c5baa59090b63c6a88","provenance":{"extract":{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/falextracts/Contract%20Opportunities/Archived%20Data/FY2024_archived_opportunities.csv","etag":"\"d582488fe153a9f11bf629913d176ffc-137\"","fetched_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z","row_sha256":"bd4778fe83b759e2d35222f89e0a0f5978eb5d56645b505db3f56d65941efa97","last_modified":"2026-09-13T14:47:40Z"},"updated_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z","first_seen_at":"2026-09-16T19:07:39.720164Z"},"description":{"text":"Notice of Intent to award a sole source purchase order under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The United States Department of Agriculture intends to contract with Merrick & Company, on a sole source basis for Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) with confidential information not available to the public. This will be for one (1) base year and one (1) option year. NBAF is a large and immensely complex campus setting; designed for operating and supporting high containment research whose mission is safeguarding the world’s food supply and preventing Ag diseases. The containment facility includes numerous BSL- 2, BSL-3, BSL-3AG, BSL-4 and BSL-4AG laboratories. Merrick is the only firm that currently has the expertise and access to plans of the NBAF campus facilities and complex facility systems. The information contained in the current work products are confidential and not available to disclose to the public domain. Those work plans were used to develop the required Master Plan, and the proposed follow-on contract will provide Reach Back Support for the maintenance of the MP Dashboard in Power BI. Support will include continued assistance and guidance on updates for the dashboard, training new users, and implementing escalation rate adjustments. While it is the intent of the Government to transition this work to Federal employees in the near future, this short-term contract is needed in the interim. No other contractor can perform this work due to the proprietary nature of the software involved and the confidentiality of the work products. Therefore, the scope of this requirement has been limited, as it is only intended as an extension of certain functions of the current contract used to develop the Master Plan Power BI dashboard. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities, pricing, and other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the Governments needs no later than response time provided. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to attached POC. This synopsis is not considered a request for bid/quote/proposal. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests for technical information will not be honored. No contract will be awarded on a basis of offers received in response to this notice, but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more adventageous to the Government.","origin":"extract"},"notice_type":{"code":"p","label":"Presolicitation"},"schema_version":1,"solicitation_number":"12805B24Q0479","place_of_performance":{"zip":"66502","city":{"name":"Manhattan"},"state":{"code":"KS"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"product_service_code":"R499"}],"due_at":"2024-08-19T18:00:00Z","due_date":"2024-08-19","closes_at":"2024-08-19T18:00:00Z","awardable":false,"dept_key":"d-012","dept_name":"AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF","sub_key":"s-12H2","sub_name":"AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE","office_key":"o-12805B","office_name":"USDA ARS PA AAO ACQ/PER PROP","state":"KS","county":"20161","county_name":"Riley County","city":"2044250","city_name":"Manhattan","country":"USA","winner_key":"MSCKD57619M7","amount":null,"linked_awards":3,"cancelled":false,"archived":false,"updated_at":"2026-09-16T21:18:12.857524Z","principal_notice_id":"e5bc748849c540c5baa59090b63c6a88","description":{"text":"Notice of Intent to award a sole source purchase order under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The United States Department of Agriculture intends to contract with Merrick & Company, on a sole source basis for Master Plan (MP) Reach Back Support at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) with confidential information not available to the public. This will be for one (1) base year and one (1) option year. NBAF is a large and immensely complex campus setting; designed for operating and supporting high containment research whose mission is safeguarding the world’s food supply and preventing Ag diseases. The containment facility includes numerous BSL- 2, BSL-3, BSL-3AG, BSL-4 and BSL-4AG laboratories. Merrick is the only firm that currently has the expertise and access to plans of the NBAF campus facilities and complex facility systems. The information contained in the current work products are confidential and not available to disclose to the public domain. Those work plans were used to develop the required Master Plan, and the proposed follow-on contract will provide Reach Back Support for the maintenance of the MP Dashboard in Power BI. Support will include continued assistance and guidance on updates for the dashboard, training new users, and implementing escalation rate adjustments. While it is the intent of the Government to transition this work to Federal employees in the near future, this short-term contract is needed in the interim. No other contractor can perform this work due to the proprietary nature of the software involved and the confidentiality of the work products. Therefore, the scope of this requirement has been limited, as it is only intended as an extension of certain functions of the current contract used to develop the Master Plan Power BI dashboard. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities, pricing, and other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the Governments needs no later than response time provided. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to attached POC. This synopsis is not considered a request for bid/quote/proposal. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests for technical information will not be honored. No contract will be awarded on a basis of offers received in response to this notice, but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more adventageous to the Government.","html":null,"origin":"extract"},"contacts":[{"name":"Brian Workman","role":"primary","email":"Brian.Workman@usda.gov"}],"place_of_performance":{"zip":"66502","city":{"name":"Manhattan"},"state":{"code":"KS"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"office_address":{"zip":"80526","city":"FORT COLLINS","state":"CO","country":"USA"},"naics_codes":["541690"],"award":null,"attachments":[],"awards":[{"award_key":"CONT_AWD_12805B24P0264_12H2_-NONE-_-NONE-","permalink":"https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_12805B24P0264_12H2_-NONE-_-NONE-/","piid":"12805B24P0264","parent_piid":null,"award_type":"PURCHASE ORDER","vendor_key":"MSCKD57619M7","recipient_name":"MERRICK & COMPANY","recipient_uei":"MSCKD57619M7","recipient_cage":"0CLW0","recipient_city":"GREENWOOD VILLAGE","recipient_state":"CO","sub_name":"Agricultural Research Service","office_name":"USDA ARS PA AAO ACQ/PER PROP","office_key":"o-12805B","first_action_date":"2024-08-30","last_action_date":"2025-05-15","actions":4,"obligated":"116202.13","current_total_value":"116202.13","potential_total_value":"116202.13","naics":"541690","psc":"R499","extent_competed":"NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP","set_aside":"NO SET ASIDE USED.","offers_received":1,"description":"NBAF MASTER PLAN (MP) REACH BACK SUPPORT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT","method":"solicitation","confidence":"high","evidence":["solicitation number 12805B24Q0479 equals the FPDS solicitation identifier","same awarding office 12805B"],"opportunity_key":null,"opportunity_title":null}],"related":[]}