USDA, APHIS, Field Servicing Office, Butler Square West, 5th Floor, 100 North 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55403

66 -- GRAIN MOISTURE METER SOL 54-M-APHIS-97 DUE 032497 POC POC: Robert Crowther is the Contracting Officer and he can be reached at Area Code (612) 370-2115. E-MAIL: R. Crowther, rcrowther@APHIS.USDA.gov. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is soliciting offers for a firm, fixed price, requirements contract for the new official grain moisture meter. The effective period of the contract shall be from the date of award through September 30, 1997 with four (4) 1-year renewal options. Under the U.S. Grain Standards Act and the Agriculture Marketing Act, GIPSA provides moisture determinations for grains, oilseeds, pulses, rice and related commodities. GIPSA intends to standardize on new instrumentation to replace currently approved official moisture meter, the Motomco Model 919. For this contract, only those moisture meters models that have met all requirements and currently have a certificate number under the National Conference on Weights and MEasures' (NCWM) National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) will be considered for the contract. Orders may be placed by the USDA, Official Agencies and Designated States. The estimatedquantity to be purchased by GIPSA durning the base year of the contract is 30 each with an estimated 120 (plus or minus 25) during Option Period 1 or 2. The Agencies and Designated States totaling an estimated 400 each during the remaining options is unknown at this time. The solicitation is to be released on or about February 24, 1997. For a copy of the solicitation, submit written or faxed request stating name, address, telephone number and solicitation number to the Contracting Officer. FAX number is Area Code (612) 370-2106. Telephone request for the solicitation will not be accepted. (0352)

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