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FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 22, 2002 FBO #0263
SOLICITATION NOTICE

66 -- Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)

Notice Date

8/20/2002
 

Notice Type

Solicitation Notice
 

Contracting Office

Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Midwest Area Office, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL, 61604
 

ZIP Code

61604
 

Solicitation Number

5114-2-3031
 

Response Due

9/5/2002
 

Archive Date

9/20/2002
 

Point of Contact

Rebecca Holzinger, Contract Administrator, Phone 309-681-6616, Fax 309-681-6683, - Norma Cremeens, Procurement Assistance Officer, Phone 309-681-6618, Fax 309-681-6683,
 

E-Mail Address

rholzinger@mwa.ars.usda.gov, cremeenn@mwa.ars.usda.gov
 

Description

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items 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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number 5114-2-3031 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). Award will be made to a small business provided that a minimum of two competitive offers are received from small businesses. Award will be made on the basis of full and open competition from among all responsible business concerns submitting offers. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 01-08. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code is 334516 and business size is 500 employees. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Midwest Area, NCAUR, has a requirement for a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA), for use in research of soybean oil based composites through fiber reinforcements, energy absorbing materials, and soybased coatings. Properties range from rigid plastics to elastomers. The DMA will be used to investigate physical and mechanical properties of soybased biodegradable materials. The minimum requirements are: Mechanical design must incorporate graphite air bearings for "frictionless" movement of the drive shaft and provide full 25mm travel; detection of drive shaft movement via use of a linear optical encoder that provides resolution of 1 in 25,000,000; ability to provide tension, compression, 3-point bend, dual cantilever, single cantilever, and shear sandwich modes of deformation, accommodate submersion clamps (tension and compression) with fluid reservoirs to eliminate the need to invert the instrument to perform submersion studies; sample length measurement in the tension mode; sample thickness measurement in the compression mode; able to scan multiple frequencies while simultaneously step or ramp heating; drive shaft with rectangular design to prevent turning (torquing) of the shaft (and sample during loading and testing); ability to perform creep, stress-relaxation, oscillation, force ramp-rate and strain-rate of extension/compression/flexure (Instron-like experiments); automated furnace movement; furnace must be bifilar wound; automated liquid nitrogen control and automatic filling of cooling accessory from large tank using level sensor; perform automatic filling of accessory during a run when not cooling; single compact module and communicate with computer via Ethernet BUS; DMA must contain 120V external power outlets for operation of peripheral accessories; color touch-screen display; incorporate automated clamp calibrations specific for each clamp type, and can be performed when switching clamps; clamp compliance must be calibrated for each clamp type during the calibration; and the module must be controlled with an operating system that has the ability to also operate DSC, MDSC, TGA, TMA, DTA, SDT and DEA modules at the same time to provide expandability to other techniques. Acceptance and FOB point are destination. Delivery shall be made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays. In order to be considered for award offerors shall provide a quotation on company letterhead detailing the quantity, unit pricing, descriptive literature brochures, and three references. References must have received the proposed equipment within the last three calendar years (Government references preferred but will accept commercial references). The following FAR clauses and provisions apply and are available on http://www.arnet.gov/far: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Items, Evaluation Factors for award: Any resulting order will be issued to the company offering the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. Factors that will be considered are technical capability, past performance and price. Technical capabilities are significantly more important than price. Failure to provide the information relative to each evaluation factor may render the offer non-responsive. 1) Technical Capability will be based on product literature, technical features, Scientific Journals the instrument has been cited in with quality data, any installation or training as well as any warranties. Each offeror is required to submit licensing (if applicable), descriptive literature, or other documentation, manufacturer or brand name and model of the item, and show how the offered product meets or exceeds the requirements as specified in the minimum requirements. 2) Past Performance: A) Provide sufficient information to demonstrate the ability of the firm to provide quality performance. Describe the availability and competence of technical personnel employed for installation and phone support lines. B) The offeror may provide a list of references, names, phone numbers of researchers or research organizations that have previously purchased the Instrument. Past performance under previous contracts will be evaluated to determine the contractor's history as it relates to customer satisfaction and standards of good workmanship. 3) Price: Price includes all equipment, accessories, software, software licensing (if applicable), site installation and start-up, training, warranty costs, discount terms, and transportation costs. Technical capability and past performance are significantly more important than price. Evaluation is based on best value including cost and ability to meet the stated requirements above. Therefore, it is essential that offerors provide sufficient technical literature, documentation, etc. for the Government to make an adequate technical assessment. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the Provision at 52.212-3. FAR 52.212-3 Offeror/Representation and Certifications - Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions, Commercial Items applies to this acquisition, FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, also applies to this acquisition, with the following clauses from (b) applicable to this acquisition: FAR 52.222-21; FAR 52.222-26; FAR 52.222-22; FAR 52.222.35; FAR 52.222-36; FAR 52.222-37; FAR 52.222-19; FAR 52.225-3; FAR 52.225-13; FAR 52.225-15; FAR 52.232-34; FAR 52.232-36; FAR 52.211-6; and FAR 52.214-21. The offeror shall extend to the Government the full coverage of any standard commercial warranty normally offered in a similar commercial sale, provided such warranty is available at no additional cost to the Government. Acceptance of the standard commercial warranty does not waive the Government's rights under the Inspection clause nor does it limit the Government's rights and conditions of the contract. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the contract shall take precedence over the standard commercial warranty. The contractor shall provide a copy of its standard commercial warranty (if applicable) with this response. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3 (Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items), with this offer; a copy of this provision may be obtained from the Contracting Officer or at http://www.arnet.gov/far. Any amendment and documents related to this procurement will be available electronically at the Internet site: http://www.eps.gov. Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of these documents. It is the offerors responsibility to monitor the site for release of the solicitation and any related documents. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the agency. Proposal: Furnish proposal to Rebecca Holzinger at USDA-ARS-MWA, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, no later than September 5, 2002. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Contracting Officer at (309)681-6616.
 

Web Link

Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/USDA/ARS/MAO/5114-2-3031/listing.html)
 

Place of Performance

Address: USDA, ARS, MWA, NCAUR, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL

Zip Code: 61604

Country: United States
 

Record

SN00146367-F 20020822/020821014319 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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