Sheep Shearing
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is soliciting quotations for Sheep Shearing Services at the Roman L. Hurska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, NE. This Total Small Business Set-Aside opportunity seeks to maintain a healthy and productive sheep herd. Quotations are due by January 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.
Scope of Work
The contractor will provide comprehensive sheep shearing services for the USMARC sheep facilities. This includes:
- Shearing 322 Ewes in February 2026.
- Shearing 604 Ewes in April 2026.
- Shearing 121 Rams and Teaser Rams in April 2026. The contractor must coordinate specific shearing dates with the government's sheep manager, Isaac Brunkow. The government team will provide labor for moving and restraining sheep, while shearers are responsible for their equipment and taking all wool with them.
Contract Details
This acquisition is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial items, with the intent to award a firm-fixed-price contract for a one-year base period. Delivery is F.O.B. destination. Partial invoicing and payments are permitted upon completion of work for each performance period (February and April).
Set-Aside & Eligibility
This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside. The applicable NAICS Code is 115210 (Veterinary/Animal Care Services), with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. All responsible small business concerns are encouraged to submit a quotation.
Evaluation Criteria
Offers will be evaluated based on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria. Evaluation factors include:
- Price: Assessed for fairness and reasonableness.
- Technical Acceptability: Rated "acceptable" or "unacceptable" based on the offeror's ability to meet requirements and demonstrate understanding of the Statement of Work (SOW).
- Past Performance: Rated "Acceptable," "Neutral," or "Unacceptable" based on prior contract performance. The Government intends to award without discussions. Offerors must provide a detailed explanation of their ability to perform and address any requirements they cannot accomplish.
Submission Requirements & Key Dates
- Questions Due: January 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, via email to winston.buchanan@usda.gov.
- Quotations Due: January 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.
- Offers must be submitted electronically and hold prices firm for 90 calendar days.
- Offerors must request additional wage determinations no later than two days before the solicitation close.
- This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Provisions and clauses are incorporated by reference from www.acquisition.gov.
Additional Notes
The Q&A document clarifies that subcontractors may use personal shearing equipment. The sheep herd includes Polypay, Suffolk, and Romanov breeds, with ewes weighing 175-190 lbs and rams 150-220 lbs. Utmost care is required for these Federal research animals. Feed and water withholding will be determined by veterinary staff. Shearers will check in at the main office on the first day of each visit.
Contact Information
- Primary Point of Contact: Winston Buchanan, winston.buchanan@usda.gov
- Sheep Manager (for coordination): Isaac Brunkow, (402)762-4115, isaac.brunko@usda.gov