1. Type of Notice: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. This notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation or commitment by the Government, nor is it a Request for Proposal (RFQ) at this time. Responses to this Notice must be in writing.

2. Purpose: The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to conduct market research to determine, in particular; the capability of sam.gov registered Small Business entities to provide the commercial service described below. ARS will accept responses from ALL socioeconomic categories in order to gain a more complete understanding of the market for these supplies.

3. Requirement Description:

3.1. Requirement Location: See Place of Performance above.

3.2. The USDA-ARS has a need for 11,600 total adult Amblyomma Mixtum Ticks for industry study. Species: Ambylomma mixtum, Age: 45-90 days post-nymphal molt. Ticks cannot be less than 45 days post-nymphal molt or more than 90 days post-nymphal molt. Government will transport.

4. Response Minimum Information: Responses to this notice shall include the following:

4.1. Business Entity Name and UEI Sam number that align with sam.gov registration data.

4.2. Name and Email address of primary point of contact.

4.3. Technical/capability statement. This statement must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that the business entity possesses the necessary technical expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition.

5. Response Instructions:

5.1. Please email Minimum Information identified in Section 4 above to James Porter at james.porter@usda.gov by the “Response Date and Time” noted above.

5.2. Email response Subject Line must contain following language “12805B24Q0178 Ticks Sources Sought.”

5.3. Responses that do not include the minimum information noted in Section 4 and section 5.2 above will not be considered.

5.4. Phone communication will not be accepted.

5.5. Responses submitted late, defined as past the “Response Date and Time” will not be considered.

6. Further Notice Information:

6.1. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.

6.2. Respondents are also advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information or provide feedback about any of the information received.

6.3. In order to protect the integrity of any future procurement that may arise from this announcement, information regarding the technical point of contact will not be given and no appointments for presentations will be made.

6.4. After review of the responses received, the Government may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation on sam.gov Contract Opportunities. Any subsequent procurement is expected to be conducted as a commercial service purchase in accordance with FAR Part 12 and as a Simplified Acquisition Procedure in accordance with FAR Part 13.

6.5. No proprietary, sensitive, confidential, or classified information shall be included with your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.