SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. This notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation or commitment by the Government, nor is it a Request for Quote (RFQ) at this time. Responses to this Notice must be in writing. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to conduct market research to determine the capability of Small Business and/or Large Business companies to provide the supplies/services described below. Contractor/vendor responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name; (b) address; (c) point of contact; (d) phone, fax and email; (e ) DUNS Number; (f) Cage Code; (g) socioeconomic category (i.e., small business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, etc.); (h) a technical/capability statement as well as your existing customers (i) any GSA Schedule numbers and expiration dates and (j) if you accept credit cards. Department of Agriculture (ARS) requests responses from ALL socioeconomic categories in order to gain a more complete understanding of the market for these products. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following commodity: Wireless fluid dispensers (Liquid Injection System) for microbiological growth flasks USDA-ARS Peoria, IL has a need for wireless fluid dispensers (a liquid injection system) that can be utilized to introduce liquids into microbiological flasks under conditions commonly used for growth. The minimum requirements for these dispensers are as follows: Programable dispensing system that can be used to add sterile liquids to culture flasks during microbiological growth experiments. Dispensing units must function independently of each other so that individual culture flasks can be programmed differently (i.e., each culture flask will have a separate dispensing system). Dispensing units must have the ability to be programmed wirelessly and recover data wirelessly After programing each dispensing unit, they must function wirelessly in order to allow them to be used under shaking conditions typical of aerobic microbiological growth (e.g., 50-250 rpm). Dispensing units must have the ability to be used at temperatures between 20-40 degrees Celsius. Dispensing systems must be compatible with straight-neck culture flasks (w/o beaded rim) and 38mm neck diameter. Each dispensing system must be able to hold at least 25 ml of liquid and be able to maintain sterility of that liquid for at least 5 days during typical use. Dispensing systems must be able to accurately dispense as little as 50 microliters and have a maximum flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per minute. Dispensing systems must be compatible with dispensing up to 50% glucose, 75% glycerol, and 75% methanol. Dispensing systems must have the ability to be programmed to dispense single or multiple timed releases of a specific volume or add liquid at a constant feeding rate. Dispensing units must have compatible software for programing and data collection. Minimum of 12 dispensing units sufficient for 12 separate flasks. The NAICS code for the expected acquisition is 334516, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees and the PSC Code is 6640. 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. Please email an itemized capability statements to Aaron Dimeo at
[email protected] by 3:00 p.m. (CST), February 19, 2020. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Please note the “Wireless Fluid Dispensers / Liquid Injection System (LIS)” in the subject line of the email. 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 request for quotation (RFQ). 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.