SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified 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 services. 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 541511, with a Size Standard of $30.0 million and the PSC Code is J066. 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 service: 001) Migrate 2 Joe White Micro-Malting Machines Scope of Work : The goal of this project will be to upgrade out Joe White Micromalters that are currently driven by computers running Microsoft Windows XP to be compatibility with computers running Windows 10. Background : The Joe White Micromalters are instruments located in the Malt Quality Analysis lab that play a central role in processing varieties of barley into malt. The instruments are each connected to a PC that runs the malting schedules and modulates the environment contained within machine to force germination in barley grains. Technical Requirements/Tasks: Software and hardware must be updated to be compatible with a Windows10 operating system computer, which will be used to control the micro-malting machine’s process variables during automated batches; automated batch processes must be controlled properly. This migration must replace existing Opto22 hardware with Opto22’s Pac Platform hardware and software,and allow the use of the original “New Malt” machine strategy. Job must include removal of existing B100 and B200 Opto22 brain boards, existing rack cards, and LCSX controller. The job must also include the supply and installation of a SNAP-PAC-R2 controller, a SNAP-PAC-RCK12 Opto22 rack card, 3 AC input modules, 5 AC output modules, one 4-channel ICTD analog input module, and a 2-channel analog output module. New rack cards must be rewired using din mounted terminal blocks, and all wiring labeled. Opto22 PacProjectPro software must be supplied and installed on Windows 10 Enterprise operated PCs supplied by us. A 10 port Mikrotik Ethernet router/switch must be supplied, installed, and configured for new network connections to new PCs and R2 controllers. Ethernet cables must be supplied for connections. Existing Pac Control and Display strategies must be installed, and any discrepancies between the existing strategy and the machines’ hardware must be fixed. Minor changes necessary to facilitate operation of the micro-malting machines must be made. Government Furnished: The government will furnish the Joe White micromalters to be upgraded as well as Windows 10 PCs needed for upgrade. The government will access completeness upgrade Based on finished functionality of the units . Deliverables / Schedule: This migrate must to be completed no later than September 30, 2020. Tasks and Associated Deliverables : 2 existing Joe White Micro-malting machines, using “New Malt” control strategy, must be migrated, via hardware component and software upgrades, to operate with Windows10 based PCs. New component supply, installation, and optimization for proper batch process control is necessary. Control of steeping, germination, and kilning processes, during automated batches, must function properly. Reporting Requirements: The contractor is required to provide written progress reports only in the case where the works exceeds 2 weeks for the period, otherwise we only require a final report upon completion of the upgrade. The progress report shall cover all work completed during the specified period. This report shall also identify any problems that arose and a statement explaining how the problem was resolved. This report shall also identify any problems that have arisen but have not been completely resolved and provide an explanation. Travel: No travel anticipated unless contractor has to travel to facility in Madison WI. Responsibility for travel will be covered by contractor. Contractor’s Key Personnel: No resumes required. Contractor must be experience with OPTO 22 hardware, installation of SNAP controllers, and Windows 10. Security Requirements: The contractor will need no anticipated security clearance outside daily access to our facility during our normal work hours of M-F 8am-5pm. Data Rights: No data rights will be produces, furnished or acquired. Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards 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 Monday, June 8, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) to the attention of Laura Jones at
[email protected]. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Questions should be directed to
[email protected] b y no later than , June 5, 2020 at 2:30 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.