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 6625. 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) Eight Channel Water Potential Logger Scope of Work: The USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit is seeking an Eight Channel Water Potential Logger (plus accessories). The objective of the instrument is to estimate water potential of cranberry to understand plant water relations in cranberry to water and temperature stress. Background: Cranberry physiological response to water and nutrient management requires the measurement of water potentials and acquisition of water potential system. Since cranberry leaves are small, it is useful to measure with systems like a psychrometer rather than big instruments like pressure chambers. Wescor Psypro is the only instruments that meet the high accuracy and fast data acquisition requirement while working with small leaves. A Wescor Psypro meter was utilized to measure water potential in various crops. This is the only instrument that can measure eight samples at a time, unlike other systems measuring only one sample is possible in the same period (PMS). These sample chambers have the highest response time and sensitivity, which is critical as they are used to measure leaf and soil water potentials. Overall, they are easy to use, automated, time-saving, and also have the highest accuracy in measuring water potential. Technical Requirements: Ability to work leaves less than <1.5 cm Process time - 30 sec/ sample to minutes Multiple simultaneous sample measurements – 8 samples/ time Range - -0.05 MPa to -8 MPa with 0.01 MPa ±2% Key Deliverables: PSYPRO Eight Channel Water Potential Logger; Qty: 1 C-52-SF Sample Chamber with surefast; Qty: 8 PST-55-30-SF Soil Hygrometer/Psychrometer (stainless) 3.0 meter, surefast; Qty 2 Blow Clean (Continental US only); Qty: 1 C-52 Maintenance and Supply Kit; Qty: 1 C-52 Sample Holders; Qty 2 Sample Discs (5000); QTY 1 Water Potential Standard; Qty 3 110/220 V Battery Charger for PSYPRO; Qty: 1 Rechargeable Battery for PSYPRO; Qty: 1 Delivery: Delivery by or before 07/20/2020 to 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706. 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 should be submitted via email by Friday, June 5, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. (CST) to the attention of Aaron Dimeo at
[email protected]. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Questions should be directed to Aaron Dimeo at
[email protected] by no later than Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (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.