US Env. Protection Agency, CMD-RTP MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

66 -- COMPUTER DRIVEN RHEOMETER SYSTEM SOL D600423M1 DUE 062096 POC Teresa A. Ward, Contract Specialist, (919)541-2311/Barbara Stearrett, Contracting Officer, (919)541-3113. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a requirement for one computer driven rheometer system. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; PROPOSALS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED (with the exception of the listing of an approved third party listing Agency approved by the North Carolina Building Code Council which will be faxed upon request). The solicitation number is D600423M1 and the solicitation is being issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acqusition Circular 37. This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small business. The associated Standard Industrial Code (SIC) for this procurement is 3826, and the small business size standard is 500 employees. The contractor shall provide a high performance system for rheological analysis of coating formulations. The following minimum specifications are: (1) Ability to conduct oscillation/relaxation measurements of dispersion, suspensions, solutions, and gels. (2) Frequency range 10 to the -5 power Hz to 75 Hz, appproximately 470 rad/sec. (3) Amplitude of 10 to the -6 power rad-min oscillatory angle to probe dispersion and suspension properties in their linear visco-elastic regions. (4) Programmable rise time for step strain experiments from 0.01 sec to 10 sec. (5) Ability to perform dynamic experiments following cessation of steady shear at any point around the full 360 degrees of the sample geometry. (6) Ability to measure stress growth while changing strain with time periods from 0.01 seconds up the 15,000 seconds. Ability to generate shear rates of 10 to the -6 power s to the -1 power and strain of 0.02 rad. (7) Steady shear capability with rotational speeds of 1.3 X 10 to the -3 power to 1.3 x 10 to the 3 power rpm with a precision of 0.025% at any speed over the entire range. (8) Conditioning unit and regulator assembly for compressed air. (9) Operational modes for viscometry, oscillation, relaxation, strain sweep, flow relaxation, and shear rate sweep. (10) Fluids capability with variable range, air bearing, transducer capable of full scale torque: 1, 10, 100, 300 gm.cm; operating range: 0.001 gm.cm to 300 gm.cm: and dynamic range: of 5000:1 per range. (11) Hardware/software driven temperature control unit capable of regulating temperature from -15 degrees Celsius to 130 degrees Celsius in isothermal and control ramping modes with stability of 0.1 degrees Celsius. (12) Advanced data processing capabilities for mathematical modeling, i.e., Power Law, Log, Linear, Proportional, Arrhenius, Exponential, Nonlinear (power law + a constant), up to nine term Polynomial and full range Fourier Series; curve labeling, overlays, plot files, data editing and extrapolation; rheological models such as, Bingham, Ellis, Vocadlo, Moore, Herschel-Bulkley, and Casson; and import and export of data sets. (13) Data acquisition and control system, including a math coprocessor and storage capability of at least 480 mbyte and high resolution monitor. (14) Ability to perform sample evaluation at increased temperature and/or increased pressures in a closed loop system. Unit must be completely closed to avoid emission of volatiles. (15) Ability to sustain integrity of sample throughout testing to avoid sample evaporation. (16) Freestanding active/passive vibration free table. (17) High speed print capability. (18) Flexibility to upgrade to perform electro-rheology to the samples. (19) Delivery, setup and onsite training shall be provided by the contractor. (20) The equipment shall be listed and labeled by a third party listing Agency approved by the North Carolina Building Code Council. The Contractor shall offer to the Government at least the same warranty terms, including offers of extended warranties, offered to the general public in customary commercial practice. Brochures or manufacturer specifications must be included with your bid/offer. Delivery is required within 60 calendar days after contract award. Contractor shall notify Project Officer at least 2 weeks prior to shipping Rheometer, FOB Destination to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Shipping and Receiving, Page Road and I-40, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The following FAR Provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Evaluation-Instructions to Offerors-Commercial; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (i) technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirements; (ii) past performance; (iii) price, in decreasing order of importance. Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price. All offerors are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. The following FAR clause applies to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses, which are cited in clauses 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I; 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity; 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns; 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.225-3 Buy American Act-Supplies; 52.225-18, European Community Sanctions for End Products; 52.225-21 Buy American Act, North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act-Balance of Payments Program. Offerors must submit all technical questions concerning this solicitation in writing to the contract specialist. EPA must receive the questions no later than 10 calendar days after the date of this solicitation. EPA will answer questions which may affect offers in an amendment to the solicitation. EPA will not reference the source of questions. All bids/offers should be submitted to Teresa A. Ward, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg. Lobby, Attn: Teresa A. Ward, 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by June 20, 1996, 4:30 p.m. EST. Offers/bids received after the exact time specified will not be considered. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored See Numbered Note(s): 1. (0145)

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