USDA-ARS-SAA, Richard B. Russell Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720

66 -- AUTOMATED BACTERIAL PLATING INSTRUMENT/AUTOMATED BACTERIAL COUNTING DEVICE SOL RFQ-0038-4384-00 DUE 082900 POC Elaine Wood/ 706-546-3534 WEB: Click here to download a copy of 52.212-3, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/repcert.htm. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer, woode@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; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number RFQ-0038-4384-00 is issued as a request for quotations and incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through FAC 97-14. The proposed contract is 100% set-aside for small businesses The standard industrial classification code is 3826. The small business size standard is 500 employees. USDA, ARS has a requirement for two laboratory instruments to be used to facilitate high volume bacterial dilution plating procedures. Along with plating capabilities, the need to enumerate the resulting bacterial colony counts is required. Required specifications for automated bacterial plating instrument: 1. Must have internal calibration procedure for user validation.2. Must have a straight stylus that will allow the use of 15mm diameter sample tubes. 3. Must have multiple users plating modes to accommodate varying sample output aliquots of 20, 50, 100 and 250 ul either in exponential or uniform depositions. 4. Must have easy access to changing out parts including replacing stylus and tubing if an obstruction occurs and disassembly is required. 5. Must have the capability to expel sample and stylus cleaning mode to prevent clogs. 6. On site setup and training of instrument operations is required. Required specifications for automated bacterial counting device: 1. Device must be interfaced with a computer and internal CD-R drive for storage of data and images. 2. Must have ambient light protection to allow operation under fluorescent lighting. 3. Must have real time imaging with a high resolution CCD video camera. 4. Software must be able to capture and store images. 5. Software must be able to export data directly into EXCEL spreadsheet for analysis. 6. Captured images must be retrievable for analysis at a later date 7. The capability to count colonies on-screen with the computer's mouse is required. 8. On site setup and training of instrument operations is required. Delivery is required within 60 days ARO.Delivery is FOB Destination to USDA, ARS, Ft. Pierce, FL. Descriptive literature showing the quoted item meets or exceeds all specifications included herein must accompany the quotation. The government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsive/responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation and is most price advantageous to the government. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The contracting officer will make award based on price and price-related factors. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror/Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, and FAR 52.222-70, Compliance with Veterans Employment Reporting Requirements with its proposal. Far 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following FAR clauses cited in 52.212-5 are applicable to this acquisition: 52.203-6; 52.203-10, 52.219-8; 52.222-26; 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37; 52.225-3; 52.222-18; 52.225-21. The contractor shall extend to the Government the full coverage of any standard commercial warranty normally offered in a similar commercial sale, provided such warranty is available at no additional cost to the Government. Acceptance of the standard commercial warranty does not waive the Government's rights under the Inspection clause nor does it limit the Government's rights with regard to the other terms and conditions of this contract. Acceptance testing will be performed during the training sessions as specified by item 6 for plating instrument and item 8 for bacterial counting device. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the contract shall take precedence over the standard commercial warranty. The contractor shall provide a copy of its standard commercial warranty (if applicable) with its response. Responses are due 10:00 am local time, August 29, 2000 at USDA Agricultural Research Service, 950 College Station Rd, Athens, GA 30605-2720 (or POB 5677, Athens, GA 30604-5677). POC Elaine Wood, Contract Specialist, 706/546-3534 or fax 706/546-3444. Posted 08/09/00 (W-SN483989). (0222)

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