USDA, ARS, FMOD, BA, Contracting Section, Bldg. 003, Rm. 329, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

37 -- PURCHASE OF ONE (1) JOHN DEERE 6 -- ROW CORN PLANTER WITH TRADE-IN SOL 30-3K47-97 DUE 091297 POC Theressa Mitchell -- (301)504-8484 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number 30-3K47-97 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ), and incorporates provisions and clauses that in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 90-38. The standard industrial classification code is 3523, with a small business standard of 500 employees. This acquisition will be procured is a 100% small business set-aside. Delivery is required on or about November 17, 1997 or within 60 calendar days after award. Delivery is FOB destination to USDA, ARS, Farm Operations Branch, Beltsville, MD Quotations should be addressed to USDA, ARS, Area Contracting Office, Bldg. 003, Rm. 329, BARC- West, Beltsville, MD 20705 Attn: T.C. Mitchell. The proposed contract will include the following: Item 01, one John Deere 1750 Conservation 6 row corn planter on 30" row spacing with an additional (5) matching planting units that we will mount on our existing splitter bar. Item 2, Trade-in allowance for one John Deere 7000 (6) row 30" planter Serial #B14220 with chemical boxes, liquid fertilizer tanks, squeeze pump, row markers, finger pickups, feed cups, and 5 king planter units. Available for inspection by calling the above contact. Descriptive literature showing that the quoted corn planter meets all specifications included herein must accompany the quotation. The planter will be utilized by the Farm Operations Branch for plant research where accurate seed metering is crucial. The ability to adapt the planter to variable rate technology or automatically changes the seeding rate as the planter is in operation. The ability to adapt to the new precision farming computer system at FOB for the research program. Minimum specs: Frame mounted "no-till" coulters, Vacuum seed metering system including a hydraulically driven pump, seed plates for standard corn, small corn, large sweet corn, small sweet corn and soybeans, 7" x 7" mainframe tool bar, granular chemical box with furrow seed placement, steel rotary scrapers, liquid fertilizer tanks with minimum capacity 200 gallons, Regular seed tubes with sensor and wiring harness, staggered cast iron closing wheels with adjustable down pressure, double disc openers with walking gauge wheels, Liquid fertilizer tanks with a minimum capacity 200 gallons, Adjustable heavy duty down pressure springs with a minimum or 4 settings and up to 400 lb of down force per row. The offerors shall identify where the offered item meets or does not meet each of the Government functional and performance minimum specification listed herein. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsive/responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the government. Any interested/qualified source who believes they can provide the required equipment must respond by 3 p.m. on or before September 12, 1997. All such responses will be evaluated in order to determine the ability to meet the above stated capabilities. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers; technical capability, past performances, and price. Technical/past performance is more important than price. Responses shall include literature, brochures, and other such information corresponding to the required items which demonstrates the capabilities of the offeror's equipment. The following FAR clauses and provisions apply: FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Award to a technical acceptable offeror, at fair and reasonable price; 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses in paragraph (b) of FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, will apply to the resultant contract: 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, and 52.225-18. All offerors must include a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3 with their response. (0230)

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