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

66 -- COEXTRUSION BLOWN FILM SYSTEM SOL 5114-8-0002 DUE 042898 POC Sofia Basso, Purchasing Agent, 309-681-6611 The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Midwest Area, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), Peoria, IL, is in need of a Coextrusion Blown Film System to prepare multilayer extruded blown film. This will allow for automated preparations of biopolymer films having thin, laminated outer layers of protective polymers. Such films could have many application as single use biodegradable consumer articles. This 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; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation No. 5114-8-0002 is being issued as a Request for Quotation. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-04. Standard Industrial Classification Code 3826 with a corresponding size standard of 500 employees applies to qualify as a small business. Salient Characteristics: Overall System Construction: The approved system must be capable of making 3-layer (ABA) type films. Necessary components of the system will include appropriate extruders, a control panel, a three layer blown film die, an air ring and blower assembly, and a blown film tower. All components shall be mounted on a single base frame or table which is mounted on castors. Base shall have a size of 60 60 inches or less. Extruder(s): NCAUR currently has two extruders which will be used to extrude the outer layers. Therefore, the successful bidder must supply a single-screw extruder to form the center layer compatible with existing Randcastle RCP-500 extruders. The successful bidder must supply all hardware, if any, needed to adapt the extruders. The extruder should have barrel inside diameters of 1.0 in., and outputs of < 2.5 lb/hr to 42 lb/hr for screw speeds of 10 -- 150 rpm, respectively. The L/D (length/diameter) ratio of the extruder should be at least 20/1. The extruder shall include components necessary for proper operation, including screw, feed hopper, variable seed electric motor and gears, barrel heaters and melt pressure and temperature transducers. The drive system shall include a motor of at least 3 hp. The barrel shall be constructed of stainless steel hardened to #416. The extruder shall have at least 3 heating zones. Heaters shall have at least 1000/zone of power and be capable of heating the barrel to at least 300 C. The each of the extruder heating zones shall have independently controlled cooling. Pressure/temperature transducers shall be Dynisco #TPT463E, or equivalent, and have digital readouts. Control Panel: The control panel shall be free standing and have quick connect type plugs to extruder heaters, drive, and take-off equipment. The control panel shall contain digital temperature controls and displays for the extruder, as well as for any transfer pipes and die. The panel shall also be able to control and monitor the two Randcastle extruders being used to extrude the outer layers. It would be preferable that the temperature controls be in metric (centigrade). There shall be meters to display the power consumed by the extruder drive motor and the screw rpm. These shall allow the user to set the power at a setting wherein the extruder automatically shut down to prevent overloading the motor. There shall be digital readouts for the temperature/pressure transducers for the extruder. The control panel shall also be capable of sending operational data to a personal computer for subsequent data storage and analysis. Die: The die shall connect to the two Randcastle RCP-500 extruders and the described above extruder. Polymer melt from the bid extruder shall constitute the center layer while the Randcastle RCP-500 extruders supply the polymer for the second and third layers. This arrangement will allow preparation of ABA multilayer films. The die size shall be 3 in. The internal workings of the die shouldbe constructed to help eliminate weld lines. The die shall include heaters, thermocouples, and attachments to the extruders. Air Ring: A single lip aluminum air ring sized to fit the die. The air ring shall include chambered baffling, blower, adjustable chimney, supply plenum, supply hoses, and connectors. Blower must be at least 1 hp. Blown Film Tower: The tower shall be adjustable in height and have at least 14 in. wide pull rolls. At least one of the rolls should be water cooled (nip roll). The other roll will be urethane coated (nip roll). The nip rolls will be pressurized with air. The rolls will be controlled with at least a hp DC drive electrical motor with tach feedback and digital FPM (feed per minute) indicator. The drive system for the pull rolls should have variable speed ranging from 10 to 100 FPM. The tower should have a collapsing canopy with slip surface feature, and adjustable external calibrator. The tower shall be equipped with an idler roll to bring the collapsed film down from the top ofthe tower to a winder at the base of the unit. Electrical: All electrical devices must operate from existing power sources, preferably from 208 volt, 1 phase, 60 Hz, or from 208 volt, 3 phase, 60 Hz, or 115 volt, 1 phase, 60 Hz sources. The bidder shall provide any transformers, intermediate electrical devices or connectors required to run the system from the listed existing power sources. Installation/Start Up: The bidder shall provide operating and service manuals. The bidder shall provide installation advice to allow qualified NCAUR personnel to install and start up the coextrusion blown film system. Warranty: Standard commercial warranty shall apply. CLIN 0001 Extruder, 1 each; CLIN 0002 Control Panel, 1 each; CLIN 0003 Die, 1 each; CLIN 0004 Air Ring, 1 each; CLIN 0005 Blown Film Tower, 1 each. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, 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. Offeror must submit descriptive literature to provide proof that the proposed equipment meets or exceeds the salient characteristics listed above. Offer must include a 30 calendar day acceptance period. Offers are to be received Not Later than the Close of Business, April 28, 1998 at USDA-ARS-MWA, Contracting Office, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604. The POC for this acquisition is Sofia Basso, (309) 681-6611. (0100)

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