Contracting Office AddressDepartment of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Mid South Area SRRC, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA, 70124, UNITED STATES This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items identified below, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; bids are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This Solicitation is being issued as an Invitation for Bid. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. Offerors are to provide a bid for the following: Description: The Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A., is seeking bids for a state-of-the-art, 1meter fabric width, spunlaced (hydroentangled) nonwovens (NW) manufacturing laboratory line for its Cotton Nonwovens Textile Research Laboratory in the Cotton Chemistry & Utilization Research Unit located in New Orleans, LA. The research objectives, the required technical specifications of various, individual machinery components of the line, and certain special specifications and conditions of the proposed procurement are given below: Research Objectives: The research seeks to develop predominantly cotton (both bleached and raw) and cotton-synthetic blend staple fiber-based nonwoven fabrics and develop products targeted towards commercial acceptance. Examples of the products include, among others, flexible, uniform, and dimensionally stable cotton nonwoven fabrics; durable, semi-durable, and disposable fabrics; shirting and bottom-weight fabrics for nonwoven apparel; household and industrial nonwoven textile products; and nonwoven products for hygienic, medical and cosmetic end-use applications among others. Staple fibers most often used in producing nonwoven fabrics will be cotton, rayon, polyester, polypropylene and their blends. Technical Specifications of the Individual Machinery Required: 1) An automatically synchronized mechanical fabric feed system. This system can continuously and in an automatically synchronized manner feed a prepared and rolled 1 meter wide staple fiber lightly needlepunched web into a hydroentanglement nonwoven fabric production system. 2) A state-of-the-art, 1m-wide, hydroentanglement nonwoven fabric production unit. The unit will operate at water pressures up to 250 psi and 76 gallons per minute, possess one pre-wetting jet, one belt-based entangling jet and one drum-based entangling jet with dewatering system integrated. Fabric weights from 30-300 grams per square meter, a production capacity of 27 kg per hour and production speed of 15 meters per minute are required. 3) A water system. A system of water supply and management consisting of the required high pressure pumps with separate pumps for each high pressure entangling jet and the pre-wetting jet, water feed tank, police filter, suction pump for dewatering, air-water separator and all required plumbing fittings, fixtures and components 4) A through air dryer. Directly connected to the hydroentanglement nonwoven fabric production unit will be installed a drum type through air dryer to be integrated and synchronized with the overall system. The dryer will be gas fired and matched to the specifications of throughput and water retention level that is output by the hydroentanglement unit. 5) A 1m-wide, Fabric Slitter, Take-Up and Winding Unit. A mobile slitter and wind-up unit of at least 18 inch diameter on wheels that is fully integrated and synchronized with the overall system fabric output. 6) General. The entire system must be fully integrated and synchronized to produce hydroentangled nonwoven fabric in a smooth and reliable manner. The system must have BUILT-IN essential safety features and covers. The system must fit within an area 17 feet by 50 feet. 7) Warranty and Service. All systems and components shall be provided with a 2 year warranty and service agreement from the date of installation and final commissioning. The warranty shall cover all system parts against manufacturing defect or failure during normal service covering service labor and travel. 8) Delivery, Installation, Startup and Training. All components to be delivered to the installation site, the components to be assembled and installed in the existing work location, the local operating crew to be trained to operate the equipment and perform routine maintenance. All systems and components shall be provided with a one (1) year warranty from the date of installation. The warranty shall cover all system parts against manufacturing defect or failure during normal service. Warranty shall cover service labor and travel. ALL RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A BID FOR CONSIDERATION. Bid prices shall include all necessary labor, parts, materials, training, and transportation necessary to delivered FOB Destination to USDA, ARS, MSA, SRRC, New Orleans, La. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.arnet.gov/far/. FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, Far 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, FAR 52.212.4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders - Commercial Items apply to this acquisition. Offers are to include a 30 calendar day acceptance period. All bids are due by 2:00 (CST), August 7, 2007, at the USDA, ARS, MSA, SRRC, Acquisition Office, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124 or via e-mail
[email protected].