Cow Lactation and Dry Premix Feed
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) AFM APD, is soliciting quotations for an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Cow Lactation and Dry Premix Feed. This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside for the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA. Quotations are due by May 22, 2026, at 1700 CDT.
Purpose & Scope
This combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) seeks a contractor to provide premixed cattle feeds, specifically Cow Lactation Premix (125 Tons) and Dry Cattle Premix (30 Tons), to support animal health and well-being for research, testing, and training at the USDA NADC. The feeds must adhere to detailed ingredient lists and specifications, ensuring they are thoroughly mixed, not pelleted or ground, and free from antibiotics, hormones, chemical growth promotants, animal products/by-products, or bactericides/bacteriostats/coccidiostats.
Key clarifications from Q&A documents include:
- Dairy Trace Material Components: Zinc sulfate, Manganese sulfate, Selisseo 3%, Copper chloride, Iodine 9.2%, and Cobalt carbonate. Equivalent ingredient concentrations are permissible with approval from the contracted Dairy Nutritionist.
- Animal Numbers: Approximately 6 lactating cattle (range 20-35) and 70 dry cattle (range 50-100).
- Tonnage/Load Size: Requests typically range up to 2 tons. Specific premixes are 10 tons per order for Cow Lactation Premix and 5 tons per order for Dry Cattle Premix.
- Sourcing: Contractors are expected to source materials commercially; USDA does not specify approved suppliers.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm-fixed price requirements contract (IDIQ).
- Period of Performance: One (1) one-year base period.
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (NAICS 311119 – Other Animal Food Manufacturing, 650 employees size standard).
- Delivery: Within four (4) working days after receipt of order, to USDA, NCAH, 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA, during normal business hours (7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. CT, M-F, excluding Federal holidays). Deliveries must be in clean, closed vehicles.
- Quality: Only clean, high-quality ingredients; no substitutions or deviations without USDA approval.
- Mandatory Clause: FAR 52.222-90, "Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors," as required by Executive Order 14398, has been added.
Submission & Evaluation
- Offer Due Date: May 22, 2026, 1700 CDT.
- Evaluation: Quotations will be evaluated based on Technical Approach, Price, and Past Performance. Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government, using a comparative evaluation methodology without formal tradeoff procedures.
- Pricing: Offerors must provide pricing for all individual line items.
- Acceptance Period: Offers must be held firm for 90 calendar days.
- Questions Due: May 1, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT, via email to Kerrie Hodges (kerrie.hodges@usda.gov).