Sierra Leone Tender21-041P
21-041P Sierra Leone Tender
April 26, 2024
LIFELINK LOGISTICS issues freight tender for Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
IFB NO. 21-041P (Inv. 054)
WBSCM Freight Solicitation Number 2000010067
WBSCM Commodity Solicitation Number 2000010066
Dated April 25, 2024
Issued by LIFELINK LOGISTICS, Middleburg Hts, Ohio
On behalf of Catholic Relief Services
For carriage of Food for Education commodities as follows:
Only firm and non-contingent Offers will be accepted from all U.S. and foreign flag
carriers. Offers with subjects may be rejected. All freight proposals will be evaluated
on the rates submitted in WBSCM. Free form remarks are not evaluated and are for
informational purposes only and to cover optional ports, optional discharge rates, etc.
When submitting a freight proposal in WBSCM, the Carrier confirms their proposal
is firm and in agreement with the terms and conditions of the freight
solicitation(s). In the event a Carrier submits a freight proposal and withdraws
the proposal after USDA receives and awards the commodity offers, the Carrier
shall be responsible for all expenses resulting from the withdrawal including,
but not limited to, re-procurement costs and additional freight costs.
SUBMISSION OF FREIGHT OFFERS:
To determine lowest landed cost, all carriers are required to submit offers
electronically for the cargoes advertised by this RFP 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.
As applicable in cases when a fair and reasonable guideline rate determination will
be made by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and in accordance with Title 46 Part
382.2(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations, failure of a vessel operator to submit
the required cost data will result in MARAD being unable to construct the guideline
rate for the affected vessel, which may result in such vessel not being approved by
the sponsoring Federal agency.
Freight offers are due no later than --- 10:00 am Central Time (11:00 am Eastern
Time), 02 May 2024 ---.
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 a 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: WBSCM.servicedesk@CACI.com
CARGO UNDER SALES ORDER NO. 5000927340
AA: CRS-SL-01 SEE NOTE 1
CARGO: 550 NMT RICE, 3/15 LG,W-MLD,FORT BAG-50KG
DISPORT: FREETOWN
FUMIGATION: COMMODITIES AND CONTAINERS PRIOR TO LOADING
DISCHARGE/DELIVERY: PER US FOOD AID BOOKING NOTE SECTION 2.C.i
LDA: YES, NON-URGENT
LOADPORT AVAILABILITY: 07/20/24
BB: CRS-SL-02 SEE NOTE 1
CARGO: 170 NMT LENTILS, BAG-50KG
DISPORT: FREETOWN
FUMIGATION: COMMODITIES AND CONTAINERS PRIOR TO LOADING
DISCHARGE/DELIVERY: PER US FOOD AID BOOKING NOTE SECTION 2.C.i
LDA: YES, NON-URGENT
LOADPORT AVAILABILITY: 07/20/24
CC: CRS-SL-03 SEE NOTE 1
CARGO: 90 NMT OIL, VEGETABLE CAN-6/4L
DISPORT: FREETOWN
FUMIGATION: NOT APPLICABLE
DISCHARGE/DELIVERY: PER US FOOD AID BOOKING NOTE SECTION 2.C.i
LDA: YES, NON-URGENT
LOADPORT AVAILABILITY: 07/20/24
Effective July 1, 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has
amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to require, as a condition
for loading a packed container onto a ship for export, that the container
has a verified gross weight (VGM). The SOLAS requirement, states the shipper is
responsible for the verification of the packed container s weight; however,
in most instances Food Aid cargo is containerized at Carrier s time, risk
and expense.
Therefore, the Carrier is required to provide the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of
each container, whether required containerization or for Carrier s convenience,
directly to the master or his representative and to the marine terminal operator
sufficiently in advance via the appropriate platform. All responsibility and
costs for VGM will for be the Carrier s account and should be included in the
freight offer. In addition the carrier agrees to hold CRS harmless of any
liability for an VGM that is not accurately reported.
If accurate & timely VGM is not provided to above parties, any & all liability,
delays or costs will be for Carrier s account. After the effective date, it
would be a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a vessel if the
vessel operator and marine terminal operator do not have a verified container
weight.
The SOLAS amendments provide that there are two methods that may be used to
determine the container weight once the container packing process has taken
place.
1. weighing the packed container; or
2. weighing all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage
and other securing material to be packed in the container and adding the tare mass
of the container to the sum of the single masses, using a certified method approved
by the competent authority of the State in which packing of the container was
completed.
For further information:
http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes/Containers/Pages/Verificat…-
gross-mass.aspx
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.
FOR ALL CRS CARGOES. CARRIER'S ARE ENCOURAGED TO OFFER ON ANY/ALL
"FAS POINTS" AND "BRIDGE POINTS" AS LISTED ON THE USDA DOCUMENTS
"APPROVED PORTS/TERMINALS" AND FORM KC-362. LOADING USDA APPROVED
PORTS/PLANTS/BRIDGES AS PER KC-362 AVAILABILITY AS PROVIDED ABOVE
BASIS FAS LOAD PORT.(PLEASE REFER TO ACTUAL COMMODITY IFB FOR
POTENTIAL SHIPPING PERIODS BASIS PLANT BRIDGE DESTINATIONS).
FOR DELIVERY BASIS INTERMODAL PLANT AND BRIDGE, OFFERORS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO COORDINATE WITH VENDOR TO ENSURE SMOOTH LOADING
OPERATION.
***EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT AS PROVIDED IN THE FREIGHT TENDERS, ALL AWARDS UNDER
THIS IFB WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE U.S. FOOD AID
BOOKING NOTE DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2004 WHICH IS FULLY INCORPORATED HEREIN.
COPIES OF THIS BOOKING NOTE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USAID WEBSITE AT
https://procurement.usaid.gov/usaid-procurement-announcements/notices-t…
Approved Exceptions to Standard US Food AID Booking Note Terms, Procedures and
Formats and other special terms and conditions (These items will apply to above
cargo, unless specified otherwise):
Full Liner Berth Terms, All Inclusive. No Demurrage - No Dispatch - No Detention
Rates offered to be all inclusive and quoted in US Dollars 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, fumigation or destination bagging,
and special requirements for container load protocol (if applicable). No minimum
bill of lading quantities or charges or minimum container quantities or charges
to apply. Carriers who do not submit all inclusive rates as outlined above will
be considered non-responsive.
- SINGLE BOTTOM SERVICE OFFER MUST INCLUDE VESSEL ITINERARY IN
THE REMARKS SECTION.
- REGULAR LINER SERVICE OFFER MUST INCLUDE FREQUENCY/ROUTING/
TRANSIT TIME IN THE REMARKS SECTION.
For all parcels, please refer to Clause 14 of Booking Guidelines for Notice
requirements.
**For all offers, Carrier must acknowledge in the remarks section of WBSCM all
country specific requirements when submitting offer; otherwise offer will be
considered NON-RESPONSIVE including the following:
*SL - Containerization is required for all commodities and cargo to be unloaded
during port working hours unless agreed upon with Consignee in Sierra Leone with
no night or weekend movement.
**Carrier must confirm in the remarks section of WBSCM they will include the below
statement(s) on Bill(s) of Lading; otherwise offer will be considered NON-RESPONSIVE:
-"Freight Prepaid" or "Freight Payable per Booking Note".
LOAD TERMS: Cargo to be delivered to Carrier FAS Vessel or bridge point at the
specified load port, and loaded at Carrier's time, risk and expense with no
demurrage/no despatch/ no detention.
DISCHARGE TERMS: Cargo to be discharged at Carrier's time, risk and expense, and
delivered in Carrier's containers to the door of the Receiver's/Consignee's
warehouse(s)located outside the port area, with no demurrage/ no despatch/
no detention - per U.S. Food Aid Booking Note Sec. 2.(C)(i)
Should cargo be containerized for carrier convenience, any/all additional cost at
destination due to containerization including devanning or stripping into warehouse
and THC is for carrier account.
Container demurrage/detention shall be in accordance with the carrier container
demurrage/detention rates, but shall not exceed $10 per container per day or as
per carrier tariff rate, whichever is lowest cost per day/per container.
CENTRAL AMERICA/CARIBBEAN BARGE CLAUSE:
If a barge is offered for service, it must be of such a type to adequately protect
the cargo, either by design, such as a house or multi-deck barge, or by use of
permanent bin walls, provided the commodity is containerized.
TRANSATLANTIC BARGE CLAUSE:
TOWED BARGES WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE PROVIDED ALL CARGO
IS CONTAINERIZED AND STOWED UNDER DECK. TO QUALIFY AS UNDER DECK STOWAGE,
THE CONTAINERS MUST BE STOWED IN A HOLD OR COMPARTMENT BELOW THE WEATHER DECK
CAPABLE OF BEING VENTILATED AND ALLOTTED ENTIRELY TO THE CARRIAGE OF CARGO.
IT MUST BE BOUND BY PERMANENT DECKS AND BULKHEADS OR THE SHELL OF THE VESSEL,
COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROM SALT SPRAY AND WEATHER ELEMENTS. NO OTHER STOWAGE
ARRANGEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED UNLESS THE CARRIER HAS RECEIVED WRITTEN
NOTIFICATION FROM THE SHIPPER(S) AND USDA PROVIDING APPROVAL FOR A SPECIFIC
VESSEL PRIOR TO THAT VESSEL PARTICIPATING IN ANY FOOD FOR PROGRESS AND
MCGOVERN DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION
TRANSATLANTIC FOOD AID SHIPMENTS.
For ALL CRS CARGOES. Owners and/or their agents must return signed Bills of
Lading and related documents to LifeLink Logistics within 48 hours (2 business
days) after receipt of masters at Owners and/or their agents expense. Rates
offered to be all-inclusive and displayed on a per metric ton basis on all rated
Bills of Lading as per Booking Guideline Section 18. Bills of Lading must state
"Freight Prepaid" or "Freight payable per Booking Note".
For All CRS Cargoes. Owners and/or their agents must return signed Booking
Note to LifeLink Logistics within 10 business days of receipt.
SIERRA LEONE Cargo. Containerization is required for all commodities. Cargo
must ship in 20 foot clean, weather-tight ocean containers. Commodities and
containers must be fumigated prior to loading. Prefer all cargo to be shipped
on one vessel. After USDA assigns PO #s, no split parcels. Cargo to be
unloaded during port working hours unless agreed upon with Consignee in
Sierra Leone. No night or weekend movement due to security and lack of
electricity outside the port.
Sulfuryl Fluoride is not an approved fumigant for commodities to Sierra Leone.
All charges up to CRS's warehouse for the Thru BLs are for ocean carrier
including but not limited to container scanning fee, delivery order fee, port fees,
road fees, administrative fees, and terminal charges.
Cargo to be delivered on thru BL to CRS' designated warehouse(s) in Freetown,
subject to change:
MOW Warehouse
Next to SLRTC Compound
George Brook
Kissy,
Freetown
The Carrier must provide one (1) signed copy of the FGIS Container Condition
Inspection Certificate attesting to the satisfactory condition of containers
prior to loading cargoes.
Vessel Loading observation requirements and procedures, as per The U.S.
Department of Agriculture Kansas City Commodity Office s notice to the trade
of May 5, 2000, is hereby incorporated. A copy of which can be furnished upon
request.
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.
All vessel substitution requests must be reviewed by USDA. The proposed substitute
vessel should be of the same type 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/c…
humanitarian_assistance/cargo_human_assistance_reports/Humanitarian_Food_Aid_Reports.htm
Vessel substitutions must be approved by the Shipper and USDA, as applicable, and
cargo shall not be loaded into unapproved substitute vessels.
In keeping with U.S. Customs enforced compliance program for outbound documentation,
carriers are hereby notified that any assessments against the cargo due in whole or
in part to delay by carrier in verifying final load count, and providing same to
LifeLink Logistics, will be solely for carrier s account.
CRS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE VESSEL OWNER/OPERATOR TO POST A
PERFORMANCE BOND. SAID BOND TO BE IN THE FORM OF A CERTIFIED CHECK ONLY,
DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK, EQUIVALENT TO 5 PERCENT OF THE GROSS OCEAN FREIGHT.
THE CHECK MUST BE MADE OUT IN FAVOR OF CRS. AS NEGOTIATED, THE PERFORMANCE
BOND WILL BE GOOD THROUGH FINAL U.S. LOAD PORT; OR GOOD THROUGH FINAL
DISCHARGE PORT; OR INLAND DESTINATION. SAID BOND IS DUE WITHIN FIVE (5)
WORKING DAYS OF CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING, FAILURE TO DO SO WILL VOID THE
CONTRACT. AS APPLICABLE, SAID BOND WILL BE RETURNED UPON RECEIPT OF WRITTEN
NOTICE THAT ALL AVAILABLE CARGOES HAVE BEEN LOADED AT U.S. PORT; OR THAT ALL
CARGOES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO FINAL DISPORT OR INLAND DESTINATION POINT.
Loading Delay Assessment (LDA) applicable when specified in above cargo details.
Note 1: The Shipper will impose a Loading Delay Assessment (LDA) for each and every
day beyond the contracted load date that the Carrier has failed to load the cargo
aboard a vessel. The contracted load date is defined as the date that the vessel
is estimated to arrive at the loading port, as specified in the US Aid Food Aid
Booking Note Part I, plus a ten (10) day grace period. LDA shall be US $1.00 per
metric ton per day or pro-rata, to be deducted from ocean freight payment.
Application of LDA s will be specific to CRS cargo.
FREIGHT PAYMENT SHALL BE PROCESSED THRU THE WBSCM SYSTEM AND PAID BY USDA.
60% OF THRU B/L FREIGHT PAYABLE UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DISCHARGE PORT.
40% OF FREIGHT PAYABLE UPON COMPLETION OF DELIVERY TO THE FINAL INLAND
WAREHOUSE(S).
Offers from NVOCCs will be considered non-responsive.
***NOTICE TO THE TRADE***
FAS Notice to the Trade issued February 16, 2023 Cargo Fumigation Requiements and
Prohibition of Methyl Bromide as a Fumigant in International Food Assistance Programs
is fully incorporated into this freight tender / solicitation.
https://fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/fumigation_protocols_a…
_notice_to_trade-2-16-23.docx
Notice to the Trade issued February 8, 2023 - REVISED Pre-treatment of Containers for carrying
packaged Food Aid Cargoes is fully incorporated into this freight tender / solicitation.
https://fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/pretreatment_of_contai…
Notice to the Trade issued April 27, 2023 - Bag - Stowage in Containers is fully incorporated into
this freight tender / solicitation.
https://fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/bag_stowage_in_contain…;
For offers submitted through the electronic Web-Based Supply Chain Management
(WBSCM) system, one of the statements below must appear in the Free Form Remarks
Section for each offer submitted.
1. This freight proposal, whether successful or unsuccessful, contains trade secrets
or commercial financial information which are privileged and confidential and exempt
from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552.
Furthermore, this information is prohibited from disclosure under the Trade
Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 1905.
-- OR --
2. This freight proposal, whether successful or unsuccessful, may, in the future,
be made public or released under a FOIA request."
Notice to the Trade dated April 5, 2017- Ocean Carrier Charges and Oversees Offices
or Agents is fully incorporated into this IFB.
EXPANSION OF TERMINAL DESIGNATIONS WITHIN THE PORT OF
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Effective with Title II Invitation 028 issued on February 20, 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. Offerors 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-…
Commodity, load port and intermodal point abbreviations as per USDA form KC-362.
Delivery terms per USDA Notice to the Trade of April 5, 1995.
1) All offers MUST include ETA loadport, ETS loadport, and ETA destination, along
with routing information. Other requirements or pertinent information:
A. Vessel s itinerary and current position.
B. Full particulars on vessel owner s company including officers, address and bank
references.
C. Voyage number for vessel being offered.
2) Commodity supplier delivery terms, origin points and specific shipping dates will
not be known until commodities are purchased. All cargo's availability date at
loadport will be 07/20/24. Depending on the commodity suppliers elected shipping
dates, cargo can start shipping out as early as 06/01/24. Carriers will be
required to receive cargo in accordance with USDA suppliers contractual shipping
dates and delivery terms. The potential shipping periods for bids at the plant
or bridge point locations can be found in the commodity solicitation.
3) Total commissions 1.67% on gross freight / dead-freight is payable to
Charterer's agent / Freight Forwarder, LifeLink Logistics. See Notice to the
Trade at: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/excredits/Trade-Notice-Dated-1-16-2018.htm
4) Evaluation and contract award: offers which do not comply with mandatory
requirements of this IFB, including but not limited to the minimums and maximums
specified above, will not be considered. Offers must include full particulars
demonstrating the willingness and ability to meet these requirements. Catholic
Relief Services reserves the right to award without discussions with USDA
approval. Award will be to the lowest responsible offeror meeting the mandatory
requirements of this IFB.
5) Contract Terms: Except to the extent provided above, this IFB is subject to the
standard US Food Aid Booking Note (INCLUDING ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS
AND ATTACHMENTS), which are fully incorporated herein. Copies of these
guidelines may be obtained from USAID website, at
https://procurement.usaid.gov/usaid-procurement-announcements/notices-t…;