Official USDA 840 LF RFID ID tags approved for cattle and bison

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Animal Disease Traceability Official Animal Identification Device Standards (OAIDs), Version 3.1," outlines the standards and requirements for official animal identification devices used in the United States. It details the numbering systems, administration, approval processes, performance standards, and quality controls for these devices, which are crucial for animal disease traceability.

• Official Identification Numbering Systems: Describes various systems including Animal Identification Number (AIN), National Uniform Ear Tagging System (NUES), Flock-based number, and Location-based number.
• Administration of Devices: Covers the distribution, recordkeeping, and approved tagging sites for official identification devices.
• Approval Process: Details the rigorous process manufacturers must follow to get identification devices approved by APHIS, including ICAR testing, field trials, and performance assessments.
• Device Standards: Specifies requirements for visual ear tags, electronic identification (EID) ear tags, and injectable transponders, including printing, durability, retention, and readability.
• Field Trial Protocol: Outlines the timeline and requirements for field trials to assess device performance and durability.

This document is highly relevant for any bidder involved in the manufacturing, distribution, or application of animal identification devices. It provides the technical specifications, regulatory requirements, and approval pathways necessary to ensure compliance with USDA's animal disease traceability program. Understanding these standards is critical for developing or supplying compliant identification solutions.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the supply and distribution of USDA approved, Animal Identification Number (AIN) compliant, Half Duplex (HDX) Low Frequency (LF) RFID ear tags to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS). These tags are for use in the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program. The estimated annual need is between five (5) and eight (8) million tags, though this is not a guaranteed quantity.

• Supply of AIN compliant, HDX LF RFID cattle ear tags.

• Tags must be commercially available off-the-shelf and come in multiple colors.

• Offerors must provide proof of tag status as a USDA AIN device, including written certification, AIN product number, species certification, and manufacturer's product name/number.

• Submission of a Shipping and Tracking Management Plan detailing order processing, tracking, and validation procedures.

• Past performance information is required.

• Anticipated award of a five (5) year fixed-price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with five one-year ordering periods.

• Total contract duration not to exceed five (5) years.

• Minimum order amount: $25,000 per contract.

• Cumulative maximum amount: $25,000,000 per contract.

• Offers must be submitted via email to Jason Wilking at Jason.L.Wilking@usda.gov by April 15, 2026, 1100 CS.

• Proposals must include a signed SF1449, a Price Schedule (Attachment 1), and a Technical Proposal.

• Award will be made using a Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) approach.

• Evaluation factors include: Approved Tag, Shipping and Tracking Management Plan, Past Performance, and Price.

• Questions must be submitted via email to Jason.L.Wilking@usda.gov by April 10, 2026.

• NAICS Code: 334419

• Size Standard: 750 employees.

• Large businesses are required to submit a subcontracting plan with specific goals for small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, and HUBZone small businesses.

• Solicitation Attachments include: Schedule and Statement of Work (Attachment 1), Animal ID Device Standards (Attachment 2), and Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Attachment 3).

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To procure USDA-approved Animal Identification Number (AIN) compliant RFID button ear tags and associated applicators for the USDA's Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program.

• Supply and distribute AIN Compliant RFID cattle ear tags and ear tag applicators.

• Tags must be Half Duplex (HDX) Low Frequency (LF) RFID button ear tags.

• Tags must be commercially available off-the-shelf and come in multiple colors.

• The estimated annual need is five (5) to eight (8) million tags, but this is not guaranteed.

• Tags must be visually and electronically readable, meeting 9 CFR Part 86 requirements for interstate movement of cattle and bison.

• Vendors must be USDA approved AIN tag manufacturers prior to award.

• Devices must be HDX LF AIN button tags certified by ICAR for conformance with ISO-11784 and 11785, and have USDA approval prior to award.

• White and orange tags must be available; other colors may be requested.

• Tags must meet or exceed safety, performance, conformance, and retention requirements as detailed in USDA APHIS Animal Disease Traceability Official Animal Identification Device Standards (OAIDS).

• Quality control measures must be in place, and contractors must demonstrate the ability to consistently adhere to contract specifications.

• Quality Assurance records must be maintained for each order.

• The contract period of performance is five (5) years from the date of award, consisting of 5 ordering periods.

• Tags will be delivered FOB Destination.

• Contractor must provide written certification that the offered device is a currently approved AIN device meeting specified standards.

• Tags must be packaged in holding trays, 100 tags per bag, with specific labeling requirements.

• Contractor must maintain a system to receive and track orders, including detailed information on tag distribution.

• All tag distribution records must be reported to the Animal Identification Number Management System (AIMS).

• Invoicing will be processed through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

• Contractor employees may require USDA IT security training and background investigations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 1, the "SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN." It outlines the requirements for offerors to detail their plans for subcontracting with various categories of small businesses.

• Identification Data: Company Name, Address, Unique Entity Identifier, Solicitation Number, Date Prepared.
• Type of Plan: Options for Individual Contract Plan, Commercial Plan, or Master Plan.
• Subcontracting Plan Requirements: Details requirements based on Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 19.7 and clause 52.219-9.
• Goals Percentage: Requires listing separate percentage goals for using Small Business (SB), including specific categories like Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), Indian Tribes (ITs), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), HUBZone Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB).
• Goal Total Dollars: Requires stating total dollars to be subcontracted for the Individual Contract Plan or total projected sales for the Commercial Plan, broken down by business category and contract year.
• Description of Supplies/Services: Requires a description of supplies or services to be subcontracted within each business category.
• Methods for Developing Goals: Requires describing methods used to develop subcontracting goals and identify potential subcontracting sources.
• Indirect Costs: Requires stating any indirect cost and the methods used to proportionate share among small business categories.
• Administration: Requires naming the individual responsible for administering the subcontracting program and their duties.
• Equitable Opportunity: Requires describing efforts to ensure equitable opportunity for each small business category to compete for subcontracts.
• Assurances: Requires assurances regarding cooperation with studies/surveys, periodic reporting, compliance with Individual Subcontract Report (ISR) and Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) in eSRS, and subcontractor agreement to use eSRS.
• Record Maintenance: Requires describing the types of records to be maintained to comply with plan requirements and goals.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the government's expectations regarding small business participation. Bidders must complete this plan accurately, detailing their proposed subcontracting goals and the methods they will use to achieve them. Failure to provide an adequate subcontracting plan may impact proposal evaluation and award.