United States National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002

66 -- INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT SOL 31B7-CAS-17899 DUE 090299 POC Carol Sisas -- Contracting Officer -- 202-245-5093 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contracting officer via, sisasc@ars.usda.gov. The USDA,ARS,BA, U.S. National Arboretum has a requirement to purchase a 515 HPLC Pump. This instrument is needed within the Floral and Nursery Plant Research Unit located in Building 010A at ARS in Beltsville, Maryland. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 and supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written request for quotation will not be issued. Solicitation Number 31B7-CAS-17899 is being issued as Request for Quotation. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. The U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to award the contract on a sole source basis to Waters Technologies. 34 Maple Street, Milford Ma. A large business. The Standard Industrial Classification Code for laboratory analytical instruments is 3826 with a small business standard of 500 employees. This solicitation is unrestricted. Delivery schedule is within 30 days aro. Shipped FOB destination. Delivery is to the Floral and Nursery Plant Research Unit, Building 010A, Room 242, Barc-West, Beltsville, Md. 20705. Offerors are to propose prices for the following: HPLC System consisting of 1 each gradient component systems -- 178000, 2 each 515 HPLC Pump-WAT 207000, 1 each pump control module w/kit 176000143, 1 each 515 reference valve -- WAT027144, 1 each rheodyne 77251 & stand kit-WAT025248, 1 each 2487 dual w.l. absorbance det-WAT081110, 1 each mill.32wrk.add-on single system-WAT042990. The salient characteristics that the WAT207000 515 HLPC Pump consists of are as follows: Isocratic solvent delivery pump with programmable flow rate range freestanding: 0.001 -10.000ml/min, self-aligning plunger guiding system, 6000psi backpressure capability, 515 startup Kit, 515 Operator's Guide. The pumping system must be a binary pump gradient system with a precision of 0.1% or better. The pump must be dual piston design for high stability and be capable of pumping 0.091 to 10 milliliters per minute with no pump head changes for maximum flexibility. Pump Control Module Kit consisting of: interface module that provides control of up to three Waters 500 series pumps via Millennium Chromatography Manager. Injector w/Standalone Panel consisting of Rheodyne 7725i Variable Volume Manual Injector, 20ul sample loop, injector support panel, one (1) Each of 5, 50 and 200 ul sample loops, 25ul syringe. Dual Wavelength Absorbance Detector consisting of TaperSlit (TM) flowcell, UV/Visible wavelength range: 190-700nm, Bandwidth, 5 nm, Programmable spectrum scanning, Integral Erbium filter for wavelength verification and calibration, 1F.F.F.-488 for compatibility with Waters Millennium and 845/860 Data environments, 1000 hr lamp warranty. UV/Visible Detector: The system must include a UV/Vis detector. The dual wavelength range must be 190 to 700 nm to cover the UV/Vis range. Wavelength changes must be time programmable so that the wavelength can be changed during a run to get the most sensitivity with different compounds, Detector must autocalibrate when turned on so that the correct data is collected. Millennium32 SS Add-On Kit for Windows 95/NT consisting of: Millennium single system software for LC, GC, IC, PCI busLACE/Interface, IEEE cable and 1/o panel, Millennium documentation set, one year software update and support plan. Computer Software: The system must run under MS Windows for multitasking with other software in the laboratory. All integrated relational database is required for the ability to locate results using any parameter or set of parameters, not just filenames. This will allow tracking the various projects within the laboratory with no paperwork errors. The software must calculate statistics and plot a variety of charts and graphs without exporting the data to another software package. The report publisher must customize page layout, content, size and orientation for publication quality reports; no need to export data to a separate software package. Software must contain multilevel security, not just password security as there will be several users of the system. On site startup and training included with purchase without additional cost. This solicitation incorporates the following FAR clauses, provisions and addendums FAR 52.212-1 -- Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial; FAR52.212-2 Evaluation -- Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certification -- 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; FAR 52.247-34 F.O.B. Destination. In paragraph (b) of 52.212-5 the following apply: 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-36, 52.222-37,52.225-3, and 52.232-34, 52.222-70 COMPLIANCE WITH VETERANS EMPLOYMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (JAN 1999) (DEVIATION) (USDA). (a) The offeror representsthat, if it is subject to the reporting requirements of 38 U.S.C. 4212(d) (i.e., the VETS-100 report required by FAR clause 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era), by 38 U.S. 4212 (d). (B) An offeror who checks "has not", may not be awarded a contract until the required report is filed. CONTRACT PAYMENTS (MANDATORY INFORMATION FOR ELECTRONIC FUNS TRANSFER) Electronic Funds Transfer compliance with 31 CFR Part 208) requires the submission of information by the contractor to the payment office. Upon award, the contractor shall contact the Miscellaneous Payments Section at the National Finance Center (NFC) to initiate the enrollment process of the Vendor Express Program (VXP), which will result in a number being assigned to the contractor for payment under EFT. NFC can br reached at 1-800-421-0323 or at www.nfc.usda.gov. Year 2000 Warranty -- Information Technology Products; The contractor warrants that hardware, software and firmware product delivered or developed under this contract, will be able to accurately process date data (including leap year calculations, when used in accordance with the product documentation provided by the contractor, provided that all listed or unlisted items (e.g. hardware, software, firmware) used in combination with such listed products properly exchange date data with it. If the contract requires that specific listed products must perform as a system in accordance with the foregoing warranty, then that warranty will apply to those listed products as a system. The duration of this warranty and the remedies available to the Government for breach of this warranty will be as defined in, and subject to, the terms and limitations of the contractor's standard commercial warranty or any general warranty provisions of this contract, provided that notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in such commercial warranty or general warranty provision(s), or in the absence of any such warranty provision(s) the remedies available to the Government under this warranty will include repair or replacement of any listed product who noncompliance is discovered and made known to the contractor in writing within ninety (90) days after acceptance. Nothing in this warranty will be construed to limit any rights or remedies the Government may otherwise have under this contract with respect to defects other than Year 2000 performance. All offerors must include completed copies of 52.212-3 (Representations and Certifications), 52.222-70 (Compliance with Veterans Employment Reporting Requirement). Proposals will be evaluated on price, past performance, and proof of meeting the salient characteristics listed above. Offers should include a list of a least four reference to include company name, point of contact, phone number and fax number. References should reflect similar type of equipment purchases. Offers to include a commercial warranty for equipment. Fax proposals will be accepted. Fax to Carol Sisas 202-447-2811. Offers are to be received not later than the close of business (4:00 P.M. EST), September 2, 1999 at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, N.E. Washington, D.V. 20002 Attn: Carol Sisas. The POC for this acquisition is Carol Sisas 202-245-5093, or 3-mail: sisasc@ars.usda.gov. The anticipated award date is September 9, 1999. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Posted 08/18/99 (W-SN369201). (0230)

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