Winter Pasture Salt
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 seeking quotations for Winter Pasture Salt for the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, NE. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). Offers are due by January 23, 2026.
Scope of Work
This opportunity requires the provision of approximately 70 tons of custom-mixed Winter Pasture Salt, packaged in 50-pound bags. The salt must meet specific compositional requirements detailed in Appendices A, B, and C of the specifications. Delivery is required to the USMARC feed mill in Clay Center, NE, Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, with deliveries starting within one week of contract award. A minimum of 25 tons per month is expected, with monthly orders placed with at least two weeks' notice. The period of performance for salt delivery is from January 30, 2026, to April 30, 2026.
Contract Details
- Opportunity Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (RFQ)
- Contract Type: Anticipated Firm-Fixed-Price contract with a one-year base period.
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- NAICS Code: 311119 (Small Business Size Standard: 1,000 employees)
- Product Service Code: 8710 (Forage And Feed)
- Place of Performance: USDA/ARS/USMARC, 844 Road 313, Clay Center, NE 68933
- Delivery Contact: Danny Trausch, 402-762-4120, danny.trausch@usda.gov
Submission & Evaluation
- Submission Method: Offers must be submitted electronically via email to winston.buchanan@usda.gov.
- Required Cover Page Information: Quotes must include the solicitation number, vendor's name, address, SAM Unique Entity ID, telephone number, email address, a statement of agreement with all terms and conditions, and an agreement to furnish offered items.
- Acceptance Period: Offers will be accepted for 90 calendar days from the receipt date.
- Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government, based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria. Evaluation factors include:
- Price: Must submit pricing for all items.
- Technical Acceptability: Requires meeting salient characteristics, providing sufficient descriptive literature, and ensuring products are available for delivery within the specified timeframe. Alternate parts are authorized if they meet form, fit, and function and conform to the approved configuration (must be NEW).
- Past Performance: Evaluated as Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable.
- Clause Acknowledgment: Submitting a quote assumes acknowledgment of the checked clauses and provisions.
Key Dates
- Questions Due: January 15, 2026 (Past)
- Offer Response Due: January 23, 2026, by 10:00 PM ET (22:00:00Z)