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

66 -- INSECT PRODUCTION SYSTEM SOL RFQ 98-5445 POC Pamela Tucker, Procurement Specialist,(612) 370-2130; Robert Crowther, Contracting Officer The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Mission, Texas requires a "insect production system" to perform the following automated functions as fully integrated components on an insect production system utilizing BIO-SMRT-8 (copyright), BIO-RT-32 (copyright) rearing tray, and BIO-BA-128 (copyright)BioAssay Tray pre-formed trays: dispense liquid and semisolid insect diets into the described trays; uniformly disperse insect eggs contained in a liquid carrier onto the surface of diet in the described trays uniformly apply corn cob grit and sand separately and in combination with antimicrobial compounds to cover the surface of the diet and eggs in the described trays; and apply Mylar or Tyvek heat sensitive films to seal the described trays containing the insect diet, eggs, and corn cob grit and/or sand and antimicrobial mixtures. Additional equipment required are: and automated device for dispensing from 1 to 4 BIO-CV-1 (copyright), BIO-CV-4 (copyright, and BIO-CV-16 (copyright) vented, resealable tray covers with backing automatically removed to expose the adhesive for manual application onto the described trays containing the insect diet, eggs, and corn cob grit and/or sand mixtures; and a steam-jacketed kettle for maintaining set temperature of diet mixture prior to dispensing. Delivery is required by November 20, 1998 or as soon as possible thereafter. Simplified acquisition procedures will be used for this acquisition. Award will be made to the responsive and responsible offeror based on delivery terms and price and other price related factors. The Contracting Officer reserves the right to obtain either oral or written quotations. Please fax or e-mail requests for addition to the bidder's list. Telephone requests will not be honored. Reference the solicitation number, your company name, point of contact, telephone and fax numbers, mailing address and e-mail address. Information and/or the request for quotation shall be available to interested companies on or about October 13, 1998. Posted 09/24/98 (W-SN254054). (0267)

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