10-063P Afghanistan Tender
September 11, 2012

Freight Tender

Program:  Food for Progress

Country:  Afghanistan

Date:  September 10, 2012

IFB Number:  10-063P

WBSCM Freight Solicitation Number 2000001313 (AG-IFFP-S-12-0065)

WBSCM Commodity Solicitation Number 2000001312 (AG-INFP-S-12-0038)

Issued By:  Muller Shipping Corporation

On Behalf of:  American Soybean Association

To determine lowest landed cost, all carriers are required to submit offers electronically for the cargoes advertised by this IFB via the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system for the Solicitation Number(s) referenced above.  All offers are subject to all requirements of WBSCM and of the afore-mentioned Solicitation(s), including the deadline(s) for submission of bids therein.

Freight offers are due no later than 10:00 a.m. U.S. Central Time (11:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time) September 14, 2012.

The Web Based Supply Chain Management system can be accessed through the following website:  http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=WBSCM

Carriers must be assigned an USDA eAuthentication logon ID and password to access the WBSCM system.  Contact the WBSCM Help Desk for information regarding logon IDs, passwords, and WBSCM system questions or concerns:

Telephone:  (877) 927-2648

E-mail:  WBSCMhelp@ams.usda.gov

Availability/At Port Date for commodity deliveries F.A.S. vessel for this Solicitation is December 5, 2012 but supplier contracts for delivery may allow for earlier shipment from origin points.  The potential shipping periods for bids at the plant or bridgepoint locations can be found in the commodity solicitation.  Carriers awarded cargo bookings will be required to provide an acceptable vessel loading schedule and to receive cargoes in accordance with USDA-supplier contractual shipping dates and delivery terms.

EXPANSION OF TERMINAL DESIGNATIONS WITHIN THE PORT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS

Effective with Title II Invitation 028 issued on January 23, 2008, the Notice to the Trade EOD-150 (Pilot Program for Load Port Surveys and Processed Commodity Bidding Basis Houston, Texas) is cancelled.  USAID Notice to the Trade dated April 5, 2006 “F.A.S. Allocated Commodities at Houston and Jacinto” is also rescinded.  This means that beginning with INV 028, Houston will no longer be available as an approved delivery point.  Offerers must select terminals within the Port of Houston as listed in Notice to the Trade: Expansion of Terminal Designations Within The Port Of Houston, Texas.   The notice is posted on the USAID Ocean Notices website at http://www.usaid.gov/business/ocean/notices/.  A complete list of delivery/bid point codes, including the new Houston delivery/bid point codes, is available at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=coop&topic=pas-ex-ap

In awarding cargo under this freight tender, USDA/FAS will consider factors including lowest-landed cost and the impact of any potential award on FAS's ability to satisfy the requirements of statutes and regulations including the Cargo Preference Act.  There have been significant changes to the Cargo Preference legislation.  Offerors are encouraged to review the FAS notice on the same, available at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/excredits/ifb/default.htm.

CARGO DESCRIPTION:

Sales Order No.:  5000078130

Cargo:  1,640 MT VO in 6/4-Litre Cartons  (see NOTE 3)

Delivery:  Kabul, Afghanistan (see NOTES 1, 2)

BN Terms:  2.(C)(i)

Sales Order No.:  5000138212

Cargo:  2,000 MT YSB in 50-Kg bags

Delivery:  Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan (see NOTES 2, 4, 5)

BN Terms:  2.(C)(i)

NOTE 1 – Carriers are requested to quote alternate rate(s) in Free Form Remarks sections for delivery to Jalalabad warehouse(s) and to Mazar-e-Sharif warehouse(s).

NOTE 2 – Carriers are requested to show ocean routing and foreign inland routing (i.e., cities/countries transited, border crossing) in Free Form Remarks section.

NOTE 3 – Vegetable Oil (Substitutable) may be round metal cans or any of the plastic bottle types approved for Food for Progress programs.  Owners are encouraged to review the Special Notice posted at the following URL and to bid accordingly:

https://www.fbo.gov/download/85f/85f632dbf4e7b10471c6350a26d18d29/FedBizOpps_notice_VO_plastic_codes.pdf

NOTE 4 – Carriers are requested to quote alternate rate(s) in Free Form Remarks sections for delivery to Kabul warehouse(s).

NOTE 5 – Carrier to arrange and pay for fumigation of soybeans prior to loading or in-transit. All expenses for fumigation, including any positioning/repositioning of equipment and time on equipment, are for carriers account.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

A.  Dispute Resolution:  Part II Clause 27.(A) [Arbitration] to be applicable to any contract(s) awarded under this IFB.

B.  For any bookings made under any of the options in Part II Clause 2.(B)or 2.(C) [Discharge/Delivery Terms] the Carrier is responsible for all charges for delivery to the final point named in the bill of lading, return or repositioning of any equipment, including container and chassis, all costs associated with any container yard or other facility where the equipment is staged until final delivery, and all equipment costs.

C.  Cargoes are to be delivered to Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan (or alternative destinations named above at Shipper option) on a through bill of lading.  Routing may not be made via the port of Novorossiysk, Russia.

D.  Shipment must be in fully enclosed sealed 20-foot marine containers.  Commodities to be loaded into containers at the U.S. place of receipt, and remain in same sealed container up to delivery at receiver's warehouse door.  At the time of container loading a security seal must be placed on each container door, and both seal numbers to appear on the ocean bill of lading or B/L rider.  Bills of lading may not contain any clause such as “Said to Contain”, “Shippers’ Load and Count” or words of similar effect.

Rates should be all-inclusive for the delivery on a through bill of lading to consignee's warehouse at final destination.  Carrier's through bill of lading service shall include all customs clearance/formalities at all points of entry/transit except final destination to ensure that cargoes move to the final destination (Kabul) uninterrupted.  Rates to include all costs for documentation necessary for in-transit clearance that is not required by importing country, including any such documentation that must be furnished or obtained by shipper on behalf of carrier.

All offers must fully describe intended routes, including discharge port, relay ports, mode of transport to final destination, customs clearance/in-transit border crossing points, estimated ocean transit time of vessel and from discharge port to destination, and security arrangements for overland moves.  Carrier will not be permitted to deviate from the routing as booked without prior written approval of Shipper.  Any request for routing deviation must be made with sufficient advance notice to allow Shipper to determine if survey arrangements will be compromised and to make alternative survey arrangements as necessary.

E.  Carriers are responsible for ensuring in advance that containers can be handled through the ports and routes offered.  Carrier is responsible for furnishing necessary trucks or chassis and return drayage on empty containers, and any associated terminal charges.

F.  Receivers to arrange customs clearance at final destination and to arrange and pay for devanning of containers at their warehouse(s).

Deliveries are to one or more warehouse(s) in accordance with the provisions of Booking Note Part II Section 2.(C).  Delivery location(s) will be advised to carrier before containers are dispatched from the discharge port.

The first containers arriving for each consignment are subject to sampling and analysis before clearance is granted.  Therefore the first truck(s) to arrive may be held for up to four additional days and Carriers should structure their rate offers and delivery schedules accordingly.  After clearance is completed Receivers indicate, without guarantee, capacity for unloading at an average rate of ten (10) TEUs per day, Fridays and Holidays excluded.  Freight offers are suggested to be structured on this basis, with inland transport of the containers and delivery to receiver’s warehouse managed to fit this schedule.  Stated receiving capacities are basis all simultaneous deliveries from carriers awarded partial quantities under this IFB and/or any separate IFB.

G.  Carrier’s rates should include all necessary time on all equipment, including chassis and trucks as necessary and/or terminal storage costs, based on anticipated warehouse receiving capacities plus a minimum of ten days for customs and health formalities.

H.  Carrier awarded cargoes will be required to provide accurate shipment tracking information via email to shipper/receiver and their designated agents.  The information to be provided for each container is to include the bill of lading number, the last reported position and the date reported at this position, next relay or interchange point and projected date at that point, all subsequent relay or interchange points, and estimated date at final destination.  Updates must be provided daily on foreign inland moves and at least once per week for all cargoes yet to be loaded or in transit via vessel, with daily reports on cargoes within five days of scheduled arrival at disport.

I.  Standard freight payment provisions of U.S. Food Aid Booking Note (Part II Section 18) to be amended for contracts awarded under this freight tender as follows:  FREIGHT PAYMENT WILL BE MADE THROUGH WBSCM.  Sixty-five (65) Percent of the total freight (per B/L) to be paid upon vessel loading and submission of all necessary documents.  Thirty-five (35) Percent balance, less any applicable LDA and/or DDA, to be paid upon completion of delivery to receivers' warehouse(s) at final destination.

J.  All carriers awarded cargoes to any destination will be required to cooperate with Receiver’s surveyors and to allow surveyors access to cargoes, including on-board vessels when shipped breakbulk or when containers are carried aboard a non-cellurized vessel.

K.  Bill of Lading integrity is to be maintained at all times while in the Carrier’s custody and control, assuring that individual ocean bill of lading quantities are not commingled.

ADDITIONAL CLAUSES:

1.  Booked rates are to be all-inclusive and stated per gross metric ton.  All-inclusive rates which include costs for services other than port to port ocean transportation must include a breakdown of the ocean charge component and each of the following other charges, as applicable:  domestic inland transportation, foreign inland transportation. No minimum bill of lading quantities or charges or minimum container quantities or charges to apply.

2.  Evaluation and contract award: offers which do not comply with the requirements of this IFB will not be considered.  Offers must include full particulars demonstrating the willingness and ability to meet these requirements. The shipper reserves the right to award without discussions. Award(s) will be to the lowest responsive offerer meeting the requirements of this IFB.

3.  Prior to cargo booking awards, Offerer will be required to provide named vessel(s) with reasonable and acceptable loading schedules and transit times.  For vessels not in a regularly scheduled liner service, this to include vessel’s current position and full itinerary from date of booking until arrival at the port of discharge (or place of final delivery if beyond the discharge port).  Carrier also to provide full particulars on vessel owner's company including officers, address and bank reference (unless already on file).

4.  Total commissions 2.5%.  If offered direct, 2.5% to Muller Shipping Corporation.  If offered through a broker, 2/3 of 2.5% to Muller Shipping Corporation, and 1/3 of 2.5% to owners’ broker.

5.  In keeping with U.S. Customs enforced compliance program for outbound documentation, carriers are hereby notified that any assessments against the shipper/cargo interests due in whole or in part to delay by carrier in verifying final load count and providing same to Muller Shipping Corporation, or for loading on a vessel ahead of the booked schedule without prior approval and notification to Muller will be solely for carrier’s account.

6.  Some commodities (YSB) covered by this solicitation must be inspected by APHIS/PPQ or other such authorities prior to loading so that a Phytosanitary Certificate can be issued.  Such inspection must take place not more than thirty (30) days prior to the cargo being loaded aboard the vessel at the port of export.  Carriers intending to load these cargoes into containers, LASH barges, or otherwise unitize cargoes in a way that will prohibit or restrict inspections without sustaining additional costs will be required to bear all such additional expenses if this is done before inspections are effected or if cargoes are not loaded on-board a vessel within the period specified above following inspection.

7.  All vessel substitutions must be vetted through the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service. The proposed substitute vessel must be of the same service category as the originally awarded vessel. This applies to both U.S. and foreign flag vessel substitutions. The proposed substitute vessel must also appear on the applicable Maritime Administration U.S. or foreign flag vessel list which can be accessed using the following URL:

http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships_shipping_landing_page/cargo_preference/cargo_humanitarian_assistance/cargo_human_assistance_reports/Humanitarian_Food_Aid_Reports.htm

8.  Except to the extent as provided above, all awards under this solicitation, will be subject to the terms and conditions of Part II of the U.S. Food Aid Booking Note dated November 1, 2004 which are fully incorporated herein.  A copy of these terms and conditions may be obtained from http://www.usaid.gov/business/ocean/notices/.  For further information call 516-256-7700.

END OF FREIGHT TENDER