Equine Stock Sources Sought

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research, this Sources Sought (SS) Notice is for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. This SS is open to both large and small businesses. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.The USDA Forest Service is conducting market research and seeking written responses with information to assist the Government in identifying potential sources that are interested and capable of performing the work summarized in the scope herein. This is not a Statement of Work (SOW) and is only intended to provide interested parties with a brief description and basic understanding of the prospective nature of work required.The USDA Forest Service is in the process of seeking qualified sources capable of filling the requirement for an Experienced Wilderness and Backcountry Equine Animals. Individuals, Teams and Strings must be used to

wilderness terrain, crossing narrow bridges, and navigating rocky trails.Generalized specifications for stock procurement:Horses:Between the ages of 2 and 12A size at maturity between 14 and 17 hands tall, 900-1500 lbsSoundAn amenable and trainable personality.  Temperament is weighted more than color, size or breed.Geldings, mares being the exception primarily for work horses.Mules:Between the ages of 2 and 12A size at maturity between 14 and 17 hands tall, 900-1600 lbsSoundJohns or Mollys.An amenable and trainable personality.  Temperament is weighted more than color, size or breedThis SS notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or obligation on the part of the Government. Per FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers, shall not be used as a proposal, and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred as a result of responding to this SS. No evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents; however, the Government does reserve the right to contact any respondent to obtain additional information.Responses from interested/responsible parties are due no later than 12:00 Noon MST July 1, 2022. Responses may be submitted via e-mail or postal marked mail. All responses should be e-mailed to lindsey.christian@usda.gov (subject: Equine Sources Sought), or mailed directly to: Procurement & Property Services, Attention Lindsey Christian, 24 Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804.Please include the following information in your responses:Name:Address:Phone Number:Point of Contact:E-mail Address:Website Address:Identify your business as large or small:Cage Code and UEI (prev. DUNS):Company North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: