USDA, ARS, Southern Plains Area, 7607 Eastmark Drive, Suit 230, College Station, Texas, 77840

66 -- NIR SPECTROMETER WITH AUTOSAMPER SOL 5-6225-99 DUE 022299 POC Michael Douglas, Contracting Officer, Phone: 409/260-9480; Fax: 409/260-9413 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contracting officer via, douglasm@ars.usda.gov. 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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is 5-6225-99 and is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This solicitation document incorporates those provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97 -- 09. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service request quotations for one (1) Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR) Spectrometer with Autosampler with the following specifications. 1) Wavelength range of 400-2500 nm. 2) Wavelength accuracy of + 0.1 nm. 3) Measure 2100 wavelengths. 4) Ceramic reference standard. 5) Less than 0.1% stray light. 6) Use both reflectance and true transmission modes, which is switchable using software. 7) Noise level below 15 x 10-6 AU. 8) Make measurements on ground and whole grain brown, milled and rough rice samples; (a) Must be able to give percent amylose, moisture, protein, and lipid. (b) Must be able to use less than 5 gm sample. (c) Must have calibration equations for doing percent amylose in American rice. (d) Must give two references where the instrument was used to determine the amylose content in rice. (e) Must have a training program for the use of instrument in predicting amylose in rice. (f) Must have a support staff with a history of dealing with amylose content in rice. (g) Calibration equations made on one instrument must be able to be used on another instrument, which is in used in the USA for analyzing amylose in American rice. (h) Must have an auto-sampler available for the instrument, which will hold 50 samples. 9) PC compatible Windows software with "local calibration" capabilities. 10) Software that is menu driven and accessed through window screens. 11) Software must be able to process and import/export to other software packages. 12) Softwarethat will allow graphic display and plotting of data. 13) Software must diagnostic capabilities. 14) Software must have real time outlier detection. 15) Software must incorporate PLS, PCA, MLR, Neural Network global calibrations routines for producing NIR calibrations. Autosampler: 1) Must have a 50 sample capacity. 2) Must be able to use whole or ground rice. 3) Must be controlled by the same software that controls the NIR. The contractor shall perform all delivery and set-up so that the NIR Spectrometer with Autosampler is complete and ready to use. The NIR Spectrometer with Autosampler shall be delivered to the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, 2890 Highway 130 East, Stuttgart, AR. The Government "desires" delivery within 45 days or less after receipt of the purchase order by the successful offeror; however, each offeror shall include their proposed delivery schedule as part of their quotation. Acceptance and FOB point are destination. In order to be considered for award offerors shall provide a quotation on company letterhead detailing the unit pricing; descriptive literature and brochures shall also be provided for the product quoted. The Government is conducting this procurement using a trade-off approach, where technical capability of the product to perform the desired function, past performance and price will be evaluated in making an award. The Government expressly reserves the right to award to other than lowest priced offer. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1 "Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial", Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3 "Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items", with this offer; a copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting officer or at http://www.arnet.gov/far. 52.212-4 "Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items", 52.212-5 "Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- CommercialItems". Furnish quotations to Michael Douglas, Contracting Officer, USDA, ARS, SPA, 7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 230, College Station, Texas, 77840, no later than close of business February 22, 1999. Quotations my be provided by facsimile to (409) 260-9413 if desired. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the contracting officer at (409) 260-9480 (voice) or email below. Posted 01/29/99 (W-SN293024). (0029)

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