USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, ASD, PCS, Room 2161 South Building, 14th & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700

65 -- ROBOTICS FOR PREPARATION AND PROCESSING OF SAMPLES SOL FSIS-6-W-96 DUE 040296 POC Contact Point, Julie Adams, (202)720-9891 The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is interested in automating an existing microbiological analytical procedure. FSIS is requesting information on commercially available devices (robotics) that can perform the following operations: 1) cap and uncap screw top test tubes; 2) Manipulate (physically move from one location to another) test tubes approximately 200 ml tall by 30 mm outside diameter; 3) Manipulate (aspirate and dispense) aseptically liquid samples of approximately 1ml volume by pipette; 4) Dispense liquid reagents (approximately 10ml) into a test tube; 5) Dispense small volumes of liquid samples (10-500 microliter volumes) into a 96 well microliter plate; 6) Physically manipulate (move from place to place) 96 well microliter plates; 7) Manipulate sample containers (move, cap and uncap) approximately 3.5'' in diameter by 5'' tall; 8) Maintain sample throughput 250-300 samples per day, continuous operation. This may require processing multiple batches daily; 9) Maintain sample integrity by preventing cross contamination and environmental contamination. All devices must be commercially available. Experimental or prototype devices should be identified as such. Interested vendors should submit product documentation that supports the above criteria, and pricing data. Responses shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer at the above address by April 2, 1996. This request is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the Government. FSIS does not intend to award a contract based on the information received. Respondents are cautioned that only the Contracting Officer is able to commit Government funds. Vendors are responsible for appropriately marking any proprietary, trade secret, or competition sensitive material. Any questions or inquiries should be directed to the point of contact listed above. (0074)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0377 19960315\65-0004.SOL)