A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBAcertified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) contractors available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation Announcement or Request for Quote. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources and to determine the capability of Small Business and/or Large Business companies to provide the supplies/services described below. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. Department of Agriculture (ARS) requests responses from ALL socioeconomic categories in order to gain a more complete understanding of the market for these products and service. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to limit competition to 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, or other small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition. The NAICS code for the expected acquisition is 334516, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees and the PSC Code is 6630. Any subsequent procurement will be conducted as a commercial item purchased in accordance with FAR Part 12 and as a Simplified Acquisition Procedure in accordance with FAR Part 13. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following products: 001) Automated Discrete Analyzer (Electrochemical Module Analyzer) Scope of Work The Malt Quality Lab in the Cereal Crops Research Unit of the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center (US DFRC) will be seeking quotes on an automated discrete analyzer (electrochemical module analyzer). Background: The Malt Quality Lab in Cereal Crops Research Unit, Madison, is the only public sector facility that evaluates the malting quality of the breeding lines developed by the barley breeders in the entire USA. The facility evaluates more than 7000 lines per year from external stakeholders and is increasing every year. Furthermore, the malting lab is also providing malt quality analysis to scientists within the unit, other USDA scientists and university collaborators. An automated analyzer will be a great asset to conduct some of the routine enzyme assays associated with malting quality. We do not currently have an automated discrete analyzer at the CCRU. The ideal automated discrete analyzer platform would allow us to improve our hands-free workflow and improve the precision and efficiency of our enzymatic assay set up and reading processes. Determination of malting quality is a complex and laborious procedure that involves multiple components, such as physical properties – color, viscosity; chemical properties – carbohydrate, protein content, free amino nitrogen; biochemical properties that entails activities of several enzymes. Among these the enzyme assays are the most time consuming and would greatly benefit from automation. These enzyme assays have to analyzed for a large number of samples (several thousands) without compromising sample identity and at the same time conducting the assays rapidly, reproducibly, and using small amounts of extracts. The Discrete Analyzer is a fully automated sample oriented random- access analyzer that contains a separate sample rack, reagent rack (which can be chilled or heated), and reaction vials. It will be employed across multiple projects and multiple labs to precisely and efficiently streamline and automate enzymatic assays associated with the malting process. We aim to utilize the Discrete Analyzer, to reduce the hands-on human resources associated with routine, yet complex and time-consuming enzymatic assay procedures. Automating the processes associated with experimental set up and performing enzymatic assays will improve consistency across projects as well as increase the time available for data analysis. The Discrete Analyzer also provides a platform for adapting other assays that have been previously conducted using plate readers, such as the ORAC assays for analyzing total antioxidant capacity, Amplex red assay for measuring reactive oxygen species and Megazyme assays. The inclusion of the electrochemical unit expands the utility of this instrument for analyzing conductivity assays that helps in rapidly screening barley lines that are tolerant to stresses. Technical Requirements: 1. Separate sample and reagent racks. 2. Sample rack with 2 x 18 position sample racks. Expandable to 9 18 position racks for a for a total capacity of 108 samples. 3. Reagent rack with 42 positions that can be chilled or heated. 4. Reaction vessel with up to 360 measurement cells. 5. Capacity to perform up to 350 test/hr. 6. Completely contained outer housing provides user and sample protection. 7. Xenon flash lamp with a filter range of 340 to 880nm. 8. Reaction incubation temperature range from 25 to 60 ºC. 9. Footprint of 37” w × 27” d × 24”/(52” with lid open) h, or less. 10. Sample transfer volumes from 2-120 μL with the ability to extend to 240 μL. 11. Reagent transfer volumes from 2-240 μL. ECM Module: Electrochemical (ECM) unit uses ion selective electrodes for pH measurement. The ECM unit also measures conductivity. Filter range: 340-880 nm Absorbance range: 0-3.5A with a resolution of 0.001A Reaction Vessels: 360 measurement cells 36 cuvettes with 10 reaction cells each Volume capacity of 120-300 μL Sample Containers: 0.5 mL, 2.0mL, and 4mL cups and sample tubes Reagent Containers: 10mL and 20mL vials Warranty: Factory Warranty. Key Deliverables: Automated Discrete Analyzer (Gallery Plus ECM with enzyme/food filter set or equivalent) Dispensing IQ Kit 2 Day DIA Onsite Support PC Accessories (Touch, BCR, US cord, US keyboard, etc.) Startup Kit ECM Start-up kit Delivery: The instrument to be delivered to the Malt Quality Lab in the Cereal Crops Research Unit at 502 Walnut Street, Madison, WI 53726 by September 30, 2020. The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination. Location of the Government site is aboard USDA-ARS Madison, WI and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract. Capability Statement: Companies who have the experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. Companies should also indicate whether they are a Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), SDVOSB, or Women-Owned Small Business. To be eligible, all vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register in SAM. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. Vendor must include their DUNS# on their capability statements. Submitting a Capability Statements: Responses must be submitted by Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. (CST) . Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Questions should be directed to Aaron Dimeo at
[email protected] by no later than Monday, August 10, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. (CST) Disclaimer: 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. Respondents are also advised that under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback about any of the information received. After review of the responses received, the Government may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation. 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.