USDA-ARS-MWA, Contracting Office, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604

37 -- 2-ROW SOYBEAN PLOT PLANTER SOL 5114-7-3061 DUE 072597 POC Lorna Flansburg, Contracting Officer, 309-681-6615 E-MAIL: Contact Contracting Officer, flansbul@ars.usda.gov. RFQ 5114-7-3061 is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items for the USDA ARS MWA at Urbana, IL, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information in this notice (SIC 3523). Solicitation No. 5114-7-3061 is issued as a Request for Quotation. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation WILL NOT BE ISSUED. Contractor shall provide the following 2-Row Soybean Plot Planter (Brand Name or Equal) under the terms, conditions, provisions and the schedule of this solicitation. The items are to be delivered F.O.B. destination to the USDA ARS MWA at Urbana, IL. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES -- Bidders shall provide pricing on the following line item, quantity, componet model # and brand name (or equal) items. [1] one (1) 2-row soybean plot planter to meet the following specifications: The toolbar shall be a 7" x 7" square tube that can telescope hydraulically between 30" and 40" row spacings with a category 2 three-point hitch. It shall have two adjustable gauge wheels, a flat plate transmission with 50 combinations to accommodate row length and plant population requirements, and jack stands for support when it is removed from the tractor. The planter units should be suitable for planting soybeans. They must have large diameter double disk openers with internal scrapers; fully adjustable depth gauge wheels for more accurate seeding depth; adjustable, spring-loaded closing wheels to provide better seed to soil contact than a single packing wheel; and a plateless drive system for more uniform seed planting. The depth gauge wheels on each unit must move independently to maintain uniform seeding depth even in a rough seed bed, equal to John Deere Max-Emerge Plus units with walking gauge wheel attachments. The planter units shall be equipped with cone seeders with electric seed cup lifts with divider funnels mounted on the cone seeder units. The cone seeder units shall be covered with a dome windshield to keep debris from falling into the cone seeders. The electrical junction box controlling the seed cup lifts must have remote foot switches that can be activated from one of the seats behind a cone seeder or from the center seat on the planter. The planter units shall have devices that will hold them in the highest position to aid in loading and unloading from the trailer. The planter units shall have seed firmers (equal to the Keaton model # 104P100P seed firmers) to help place the seed in full contact with the soil and down-pressure springs to keep the units from bouncing on rough seed beds. The planter must have hydraulic row markers that will automatically alternate and have quick release pins to adjust the markers to factory settings for either 30" or 40" row spacings. The platform on the planter must have 3 seats with arm rests. One seat behind each cone seeder and one seat between the cone seeders. Each seat must have a holder for seed packets. This configuration must allow for two operators to dump single packets into each cone seeder or for a single operator to dump a single packet that will be split evenly between the two cone seeders. An electric spinner divider operating from the tractor battery must be used to divide the single packet between the two cone seeders to reduce the height needed for the dividing apparatus. The planter must be able to operate with a checkhead system to automatically dump the seed cups. There must be a time delay to hold the seed cups in the open position long enough to allow them to empty when filled to capacity. The check cable must be 1/8" thick, 7 x 19 braided aircraft cable with premounted trip buttons that must be staked on one end during each planter pass. The cable must be on a metal spool. The planter must come with 3 cables each 800' long that can be used to plant plots 11, 13 and 16 feet long. The planter must include monitors that detect seed drop through the planter row unit delivery tubes with the sensors mounted low in the drop tubes, equal to aDickey John monitor model # DJM-1000 with the sensors remounted to the lower position. Offerors quoting on "equals" must submit desciptive literature with their proposal for evaluation. Items called for by this invitation for bids have been identified in the schedule by a "brand name or equal" description, such identification is intended to be descriptive, but not restrictive, and is to indicate the quality and characteristics of products that will be satisfactory. Offers offering "equal" products (including products of the brand name manufacturer other than the one described by brand name) will be considered for award if such products are clearly identified in the offers and are determined by the Government to meet fully the salient characteristics/requirements listed in the invitation. Delivery to be on or before March 1, 1998 to the USDA-REE-ARS-MWA, Plant Physiology & Genetics Research Unit, Bldg 991, Crops Science Research & Education Center, Urbana IL 61801. The resultant contract will be Tax Exempt and FOB Destination. 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, and FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items apply to this acquisition. Quotations will be evaluated on price and price related factors. Submit desciptive literature with your proposal for evaluation. Offer must include a 45 calendar day acceptance period. Offers are to be received Not Later than the Close of Business, July 25, 1997 at USDA-ARS-MWA, Contracting Office, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604. The POC for this acquisition is Lorna Flansburg, (309) 681-6615. (0176)

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