The purpose of this amendment is to change this to a sole source solicitation due to lack of responses from interested parties under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 (Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.) Under this authority, USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Cotton Program intends to issue a sole source contract to Uster Technologies, Inc. for the supplies and services synopsized herein. with*************************************************The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Cotton Program intends to acquire from 30 to 50 High Volume Classing Instrument (HVI) Systems. The HVI Systems shall provide measurements of the physical properties of cotton fibers including fiber length, fiber mean length, fiber length uniformity index, short fiber index, 1/8-inch gage fiber strength, micronaire reading, fiber color in reflectance and yellowness, and trashmeter percent area of trash and particle count and leaf grade and moisture content. The USDA intends to award a firm fixed-price contract for the systems including equipment, training, installation, operating manuals, with or without moisture sensing components (depending on price differential) on a lease basis, purchase basis, or lease with option to purchase basis with options for continued maintenance. Options for maintenance shall include all parts, labor and supplies necessary to maintain the equipment in good operating condition. The government will accept only new equipment. New equipment is defined as equipment of recent manufacture not previously delivered to any other user. The system will be controlled by its own computer system. The USDA AMS Cotton Program has prepared minimum information technology standards for new HVI systems. Any deviation from these standards must be submitted as a waiver request and must be approved by the USDA, AMS, Cotton Program. The minimum Information Technology Standards for HVI system includes: MS Windows XP Professional Operating System; Intel Pentium IV (minimum 2.8 ghz) processor; and 1 GB RAM memory. Programming languages used for new application development should be fourth-generation computer languages or better, such as Visual Basic or Visual C. For additional technical requirements please see the Specifications as listed below. This is a best value procurement. It is anticipated that the formal solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP) 024-M-APHIS-05, will be released on or about January 5, 2005 and proposals will be due on or about February 4, 2005. The RFP will be posted on this website. Please download the RFP from this website. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD E-MAIL THE CONTRACTING OFFICER IN ORDER TO BE PUT ON THE SOLICITATION LIST TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS OF ANY AMENDMENTS ISSUED TO THE SOLICITATION. IN THEIR E-MAIL MESSAGE, PARTIES SHOULD INCLUDE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER AS WELL AS THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND E-MAIL ADDRESS. A hard (printed) copy of the solicitation will not otherwise be available. Any questions or inquiries must be mailed or faxed to the Contracting Office, to the attention of the point of contact listed in this notice. Requests by telephone will not be honored. Point of Contact: Larry Nelson, Contract Specialist, (612) 336-3225, FAX (612) 370-2106, E-mail:
[email protected] TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Overall size of a High Volume Instrument shall not exceed a width of 4 feet, a tabletop height of 4 feet, and a length of 10 feet in a straight-line configuration. The instrument shall be configured for operation other than in a straight line. AMS must approve such configuration prior to delivery. AMS may operate the instrument in the configuration it deems to its advantage. The configuration of the overall system shall, in the judgment of AMS, lend itself to ease and practicality of operation in a high volume production environment. The instrument shall be mounted on lockable casters that shall provide a minimum of 3 inches of clearance from the floor to the lowest point of the instrument. This shall not interfere with the current instrumentation height as related to the tabletop and the sample eject. The caster shall be submitted to AMS for approval. All utility and communication connections must be inside the system’s cabinet. Systems shall be designed to facilitate ease of disposal of waste sample portions and micronaire plugs. Instrument shall contain a lid latch that protects the operator from dangerous machine components such as the sampler card cloth. The lid latch shall latch upon lid closure and will require some type of vendor supplied universal tool for opening the lid latch. A viewing window of the primary sample preparation and testing area shall be designed into any cabinet cover/hood. All requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shall be rigidly complied with by the systems provided under this contract. The HVI System (instrument) shall provide measurements of fiber length, fiber mean length, fiber length uniformity index, short fiber index, 1/8-inch gage fiber strength, micronaire reading, fiber color in reflectance and yellowness, and trashmeter percent area of trash and particle count and leaf grade and moisture content. The moisture measurement shall be a single measurement and not require additional operator intervention. The length and length uniformity measures shall be made by scanning a suitably prepared tapered beard and measuring, by the fibrogram method, the length equivalent to the staple standards to the nearest one-hundredth of an inch, the mean length to the nearest one-hundredth of an inch, and the fiber length uniformity index equivalent to the ratio of the mean length to upper half mean length expressed as a percentage and reported to the nearest one-tenth unit. The instrument in maintenance mode shall output the fibrogram used to calculate the upper half mean length, mean length and fiber length uniformity index. These data will be printed on an AMS supplied printer, connected directly to the instrument and/or displayed on the instrument’s LCD flat-panel display. The fiber strength measurement shall be made on the same tapered beards used for the length measurement, with the jaws of the clamps spaced one-eighth inch apart. The instrument shall output results in grams per tex to the nearest one-tenth unit. Instrument(s) in maintenance mode shall output force-extension (stress-strain) data. These data will be printed on an AMS supplied printer connected directly to the instrument and/or displayed on the instrument’s LCD flat-panel display. The brushing pressure shall be adjustable. A device shall be provided with every 5 instruments to measure the brushing force applied to the sample. This shall be an electronic device that is quickly connected to the instrument and provides a measurement of the force applied by the brush to a fabric material that shall be supplied by AMS. The brush contact material shall be replaceable upon excessive wear. A measurement of the normalized peak transducer force in kilograms shall be displayed on the instrument’s LCD flat-panel display in the maintenance mode. Instrument(s) shall output the result to the nearest one-hundredth unit. The micronaire reading shall be made by passing a stream of air through a specimen of cotton fibers and reporting the results in standard micronaire units to the nearest one-hundredth unit. The micronaire chamber shall be adjusted using national fine threads and a dual locking nut system. This shall provide a finer adjustment and a more secure lock on the micronaire chamber. Colors shall be measured by illuminating a sample of cotton and measuring the percent reflectance and yellowness of a 10.5-square-inch area of the sample within +/- 1.0 square inches. The length of the area measured shall not exceed 3.75 inches and the width of the area measured shall not be less than 2.75 inches. Results will be reported in Hunter’s Rd to the nearest one-tenth unit and in +b to the nearest one-tenth unit. Instrument(s) shall also output the color code for the Upland or American Pima grade and, for Upland grades, the quadrant of the color code. The color grade reported by the instrument must conform to the Cotton Program’s HVI Color Grade Lookup Chart, which is based on the Rd and +b readings. Instruments shall allow color and trash calibration checks while in production mode without changing menu screens. Incandescent lighting shall not be used as the source of illumination for color and trash measurements. Percent area of trash shall be measured on a minimum 9-square-inch area of the sample, within +/- 0.1 square inches. The length of the area measured shall not exceed 3.75 inches and the width of the area measured shall not be less than 2.4 inches. In order to eliminate fogging of the trashmeter lens filters, the trashmeter cameras shall be assembled without lens filters. Trash measurements shall be made by a filterless video trashmeter and results will be reported in percent to the nearest one-tenth, except values greater that 5.0 will be reported as 5.0. Instrument(s) in maintenance mode shall display and/or output the percent area of trash measurement to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent. The trash particle count will be measured by the “cluster” method and reported to the nearest whole number. A cluster is defined as a group of trash pixels connected on the same or adjacent scan lines. A single piece of trash, regardless of its size, will have a cluster count of one. Instrument(s) shall provide the option of either displaying or outputting this measurement, or both. Instrument(s) shall have the capability of displaying and/or outputting leaf grade. Instrument(s) shall monitor color measurement performance and shall have a warning device (buzzer, beeper, etc.,) to alert the operator when the color measurement performance is outside the Government’s stated operating range. Instrument(s) shall be designed to provide minimal shock to color heads when color measurements are made. The system shall be under control of its own computer system. The USDA, AMS, Cotton Program has prepared minimum Information Technology Standards for new HVI purchases by using the applicable sections of the USDA, AMS, Information Technology Standards in Directive 3130.5. If you feel you have an appropriate justification to not meet these standards, a waiver request must be submitted and approved by the USDA, AMS, Cotton Program. All waivers requests must include: 1. A business case for not meeting the standard. 2. Why the computer system cannot meet the standard. 3. The estimated timeline for upgrading the system (software, hardware, etc.) so that it can meet the standard. The minimum Information Technology Standards for new HVI purchases as of 04/01/2004 are listed below: Operating System: MS Windows XP Professional 1. Processor: Intel Pentium IV (minimum 2.8 ghz) 2. Memory: 1GB RAM 3. Monitor: 17" LCD TFT/Active Matrix or (Optional Touch Screen Monitor) Pixel Pitch: Minimum .27mm Horizontal and Vertical viewing angle: Minimum 85 degree Brightness: Minimum 250 nits Contrast Ratio: Minimum 600:1 Prime Mode: 1280 x 1024 (SXGA) 4. Hard Drive 80GB minimum 5. Floppy Drive: 1.44MB 3.5" 6. USB Ports 2 accessible 7. CD-ROM: 48x/24x/48x CD-RW 8. Ethernet: 3com 10/100 integrated or equivalent 9. Sound Card: Plug-and-play compatible 10. Speakers: Generic or internal speakers 11. Pointing Device: Keyboard touch pad with optional touch screen Each key of the keyboard shall be at least the size of a standard typewriter key. The keys shall be positive-contact, non-membrane style. Non-glare, dust-proof keyboard protectors must be supplied for each keyboard. Upon delivery of the first instrument, the vendor shall provide, on compact discs (CD’s), the source code for all vendor supplied computer programs of the system. USDA will handle all source code as confidential and proprietary property of supplier and all copies will be returned when HVI systems are no longer in service. Vendor supplied application software shall not interfere with the Windows Operating System’s ability to perform normal windows operating functions/utility operations or impede operations of other windows applications that may be loaded or currently in use. Programming languages used for new application development should be fourth-generation computer languages or better, such as Visual Basic or Visual C. The system disk drives, USB Ports, CD-ROM drives shall be lockable to prevent unauthorized access. The operating software supplied by the Contractor at the time of delivery shall not exceed 50 percent of the computer’s processing and storage capability. Computer mountings shall be designed to facilitate easy replacement of the system’s computer. The computer’s case shall be designed to facilitate practical removal and replacement of component parts. Each instrument shall contain an un-interruptible power supply (UPS) to provide power to the system’s personal computer and computer monitor for a minimum period of ten minutes, in the event of a power failure. The system shall be capable of calibration to the Universal HVI Calibration Cottons for length, length uniformity and strength, USDA micronaire calibration orifices, five (5) USDA calibration tiles for color (white, yellow, gray, brown and central), and an USDA calibration tile for trash. Instrument system(s) shall have demonstrated capability of testing a minimum of 825 classer samples per work shift, based on 7 hours and 20 minutes of actual operation. Instrument(s) shall be evaluated for production while interfaced to a Nonstop server owned by the government, with the number of complete records accepted by the server being the official record of each day’s production. Re-tested samples and/or other incomplete records will not be counted in determining the total daily production. Samples used for volume testing will be representative of the normal U.S. crop’s quality distribution. Each system shall require not more than one operator. Offers received for Systems requiring more than one (1) operator or with production rates of less than 825 classer samples per work shift will not be considered for award. Instrument system(s) shall include a bar code reader at the sample identification entry station to determine bale identification. The bar code tag may require orientation for reading. The scanner shall read Code-A-Bar, Code 39, or Code 128, subset B and subset C type bar codes based upon industry standard. Bar code type discrimination shall be done automatically and immediately by the scanner. The scanner shall recognize and read bar code without any other actuation needed. The reader shall accurately accomplish its task in one pass of the card across the scanner, 99% of the time for properly printed and non-damaged cards. Neither pencil-type wand scanners nor slot-type bar code readers are acceptable. The system shall allow for keyboard entry of bale identification data. If keyboard entry is necessary, two separate keyboard entries will be required for each sample, with the two keyboard entries compared by the system’s computer to insure that they are identical. The first keyboard entry will not be displayed on the system’s LCD flat-panel display while the second keyboard entry is being made. The instruments’ operation mode (e.g., classer off line original, futures original, etc.), HVI number, HVI Supervisor Number, and HVI Operator number shall be displayed on LCD flat-panel display at all times. Upon contract award, the vendor shall submit the operation screen and operation sequence protocol within 60 days. The system Instrument(s) shall interface with USDA’s server using RS-232 and shall have capability for future implementation of TCP/IP communication unless an IT standard waiver is granted. Instrument(s) shall allow the display of messages from the host computer on the each instrument’s LCD flat-panel display. An output record shall be produced for each sample classed. All output records shall be in the formats specified by the government 60 days prior to the time of delivery. Instrument(s) shall be equipped with the necessary software for calibrating the specified instrument measurements and provide the capability to use external offset adjustments for each instrument measurement, except trash, so that all instruments can be adjusted to the same test level. The software shall also have the capability to use external slope adjustments for trash, so that all instruments can be adjusted to the same test level. Offset and slope adjustments will be configured in such a way that they will not apply to the calibration mode of the instruments. Software shall be provided with each instrument that allows AMS to set parameter limits for instrument measurements and allows re-testing of samples having readings outside set ranges. Each instrument system shall include all accessory equipment necessary for physical calibration and operation, excluding colorimeter and trashmeter tiles. Each module of the system shall have an independent power switch. The device used to prepare specimens for length, strength and uniformity measurement shall be automated to the extent that fibers are locked in combs without operator intervention, other than the activation of a triggering device. All electrical power components, power strips, power supplies, etc., shall be designed and mounted to prevent disconnection under normal operating conditions. The use of tape, wire cable ties, or other temporary solutions, to secure connections is not acceptable. The length/strength/length uniformity component of the systems shall be designed to reduce buildup of lint inside the component. The components shall be designed to provide easy access for lint removal by operators. The card cloth cleaning shall utilize a combination of compressed air, suction and/or mechanical (brushing) to eliminate the need for manual cleaning. A cable and pulley system is not acceptable for the movement of the combs. Micronaire scales and/or scale covers shall be designed to reduce fluctuations in specimen weight caused by air turbulence to the maximum extent possible. The design shall allow the scale cover to be adjustable in order to reduce the effects of turbulence. The width of the scale hood shall provide a minimum clearance of 2 inches from the outermost point of the scale pan to the hood. Each system supplied shall have a warning device to indicate reduced vacuum pressure as a result of clogged manifolds, open lint chamber doors, or any other reasons. Each system shall provide a measurement of the static pressure in the length/strength module that shall be displayed in the system testing mode. The vacuum motor shall be assembled in a modular configuration that shall provide a quick connect and disconnect assembly that shall be approved by AMS. Any cardcloth apparatus shall be designed so that manual cleaning is not required more than 1 time per shift. Suggested cleaning mechanisms are compressed air, suction, or brushing devices. Each system’s heat output shall not exceed 4000 BTU per hour and each system’s compressed air requirement shall not exceed 5.0 CFM at a pressure not to exceed 100 pounds per square inch, without the written approval of the Cotton Program 90 days prior to the time of delivery. Systems shall be designed so that all doors, lids, access panels, etc., which access dangerous moving machine parts must remain closed while the systems are in an operations mode. The lid enclosing the sampler bucket shall contain a lid latch that latches when the door is closed and requires a universal type tool (ex. Allen wrench, screwdriver, etc.) for releasing the door for opening. The sampler lid shall have a viewing window to observe sampler operation. The decibel level of the system shall not exceed 60 db at the point of operation. When a tile holder is inserted into the sliding tray, the gap between a holder and the tray shall not exceed 1/16". The tile holding slots of the sliding tray, when positioned at the measurement windows, shall not be off-center by more than 1/16th. Instrument operational software shall be equipped with password protection for entrance to screens involving calibration values, operating limits, offsets, or procedural parameters. This password protection will allow only authorized personnel to enter into these menus. The operator number, supervisor number and HVI number shall be displayed on the system testing screen at all times. CALIBRATION The instrument system shall be capable of being calibrated to the units shown below: Fiber Length: In inches to three decimal places. Length Uniformity: In percentage points to one decimal place. Fiber Strength: In grams per tex to one decimal place. Micronaire: In micronaire reading units to two decimal places. Color Reflectance: In percentage points to one decimal place. Color Yellowness: In +b units to one decimal place. Trash: In area and count to the numbers shown on the Setup Calibration tiles. The instrument system shall be calibrated to Universal HVI calibration cottons, USDA micronaire calibration orifices, and USDA color and trash tiles within the tolerances listed below for the corresponding quality factor: Fiber length: +/- 0.010 inch of the established value for the short and long calibration cotton and +/- 0.016 inch of the difference between the standard values for the short and long calibration cottons (spread or range). Length uniformity: +/- 1.0 units of the established value for the short and long calibration cottons and +/- 1.4 units of the difference between the standard values for the short and long calibration cottons (spread or range). Fiber strength: +/- 0.7 gram per tex of the established value for the strong and weak calibration cottons and +/- 1.2 grams per tex of the difference between the standard values for the strong and weak calibration cottons (spread or range). Micronaire: Instrument must calibrate to within +/- 0.02 on both high and low USDA micronaire calibration orifices. After calibration, ten replications shall be made on the USDA micronaire chamber size calibration cotton. The average must be within +/- 0.02 of the established value on the chamber cotton. Color reflectance and color yellowness (Rd and +b): Instrument shall calibrate to within + 0.04 for Rd and within + 0.04 for +b of the USDA values on all five of the USDA tiles. After calibration is complete, the central tile must read within + 0.04 for Rd and within + 0.04 for +b of the USDA values on this tile. Trashmeter: Tile slope and offset constants will be changed by manual entry only. The only variable manipulated during trash calibration will be the threshold. The calibration process will automatically iterate through threshold settings until the area measurement being made on the tile is as close as possible to the established area value. At the end of the threshold calibration, the count measurement and the area measurement will be automatically compared to the established values. The instrument shall calibrate to within + 0.02 percent area and within + 1 particle count of the USDA values on the USDA calibration tile. Calibration results that are not within these tolerances will be highlighted on the calibration screen.