This is a Sources Sought Announcement issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS) for informational and planning purposes only.  This is NOT a solicitation, nor is it an announcement for a forthcoming solicitation.  The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources.  Responses to this notification will help to determine the acquisition strategy for any future solicitation.  Responses will help determine whether any type of small business set-aside contractors are available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below or whether full and open competitive procedures should be utilized.  This is not a Solicitation Announcement or Request for Quotation (RFQ). It does not constitute any commitment or obligation by the Government. No award will result from this notice.  The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will not award a contract based on responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. 

Response is strictly voluntary - it is not mandatory to submit a response to this notice to participate in any formal RFQ process that may take place in the future. However, it should be noted that information gathered through this notice may significantly influence our acquisition strategy.  All interested parties will be required to respond separately to any solicitations posted because of this sources sought notice.

The USDA, ARS, SEA, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608 research location is conducting market research for the following:

Contractor must provide an annual support plan and must maintain the Siemens Industry Building Technologies building automation technical support program to include equipment and software updates to Siemens proprietary apogee software using Siemens Industry owned USB security key to allow software updates as needed. 

• Services to be provided are Operator Coaching, Emergency Onsite Response (Monday through Sunday, 24 hours per Day), Software Diagnostic Maintenance, Control Loop Evaluation and Tuning, Data Protection & Data Recovery Services, Preventative Corrective Maintenance, Component Repair & Replacement Services, Software Support and Updates, Firmware Updates (graphics creating, graphics back-up, field panel database/system field back-up, and field panel database diagnostics), Annual Documentation, Account Management, On-Site Visits, Quality Assurance Program and documentation for services provided.
• Equipment Covered: (all) DDC Controllers Type MBC, MEG, PXC and Apogee licenses for the campus-wide Siemens Control system which is connected to research equipment, HVAC and Fire Alarm system at CMAVE. This is for maintaining the building control and actuation system. This system was manufactured by the Siemens Industry, and they maintain their own equipment. Only Siemens has the security keys to upload their software updates. Based on this only Siemens can do the job.

Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and would not hinder the mission objective of the ARS research location.  Interested contractors are instructed to provide only the data requested.

Companies who have the experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a brief Capabilities Statement (no more than 3 pages) which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice.

RESPONSE SUBMISSION.  Interested contractors are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought notification not later than 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) on or before February 7, 2025 to the attention of Monte Jordan, Contract Specialist, at monte.jordan@usda.gov.  Telephone inquiries will NOT be accepted.  Late responses will not be accepted. This is strictly market research, and the Government will not entertain any questions.

Responses must include the following:

1. Organization Name.
2. Contact Name, email address, and phone number.
3. Organization’s SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number.
4. Business size status for the applicable NAICS code.
5. Tailored capability statement addressing the salient characteristics listed.

Disclaimer and Important Notes