Grinding Equipment- USDA, ARS, Burlington, VT

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the procurement of Grinding Equipment. The government intends to make one award from this solicitation.

• The solicitation includes three items: Impeller Grinding Mill, Blade Grinding Mill, and NIRS Spectrometer. Specific quantities are listed as '1' for each item.

• Technical data and supporting documentation are available via "Attachment 1- Solicitation Terms and Conditions" and "Attachment 2- Specifications".

• FAR 52.225-3 Buy American–Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act is applicable, indicating some items may be subject to Free Trade Agreements.

• It is anticipated that a firm-fixed price requirements contract will be awarded.

• Delivery is required within 180 days of receipt of award. Early deliveries will be accepted.

• F.O.B. destination is the requested point for all deliverables.

• Offerors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.

• Quotes will be evaluated based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) criteria.

• Price will be evaluated based on the total quoted amount, including discounts and shipping.

• Technical Acceptability will be evaluated based on meeting or exceeding salient characteristics, clear identification of brand/make/model, provision of descriptive literature, and availability for delivery within the specified timeframe.

• Past Performance will be evaluated using a rating system of Acceptable or Neutral.

• The offeror agrees to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.

• Questions are due no later than March 4, at 2:00 PM ET, via email to shalunda.mix@usda.gov.

• Quotes shall be submitted via email only to shalunda.mix@usda.gov with the subject line “Quote for 1232SA26Q0246.”

• Quotes are due no later than the date and time indicated on the sam.gov posting.

• The document lists several FAR clauses related to small business concerns, HUBZone, and subcontracting plans, suggesting potential set-aside considerations or requirements.

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR and AGAR clauses by reference. Offerors are cautioned that some provisions may require completion and submission.

• The USDA Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests is available for protest issues.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the specifications for grinding equipment and a NIRS spectrometer required for preparing plant, soil, and manure samples for quality and nutrient analysis. It details the technical requirements for each piece of equipment.

Impeller Grinding Mill:

• Capable of processing dry samples (up to 15% moisture, 10% fat) including grains, cereals, seeds, hay, straw, silage, leaves, vegetables, and fruit.
• Sample size up to 10mm for small inlet, 40mm for large inlet.
• Grinding rate: 4 g/s, speed: 10,000 rpm.
• Produces fine and uniform grist.
• Features safety microswitch, motor brake, and low cross-contamination.
• Includes various screen sizes (0.3mm to 2mm), glass sample bottles, and dust collection options.
• Offers different grinding ring options (hard samples, heavy metals, standard Tungsten carbide) and impeller options (standard aluminum, nickel-plated for mineral analysis).

Blade Grinding Mill:

• Suitable for high-moisture, high-fat, and fibrous samples like grains, cereals, beans, oilseeds, nuts, peas, maize (wet and dry), vegetables, and fruit.
• Sample size: At least 30-200 ml.
• Grinding rate/time: 2 to 10 seconds, speed: 16,000 rpm.
• Features timer control and safety microswitch/solenoid.
• Includes various rotor blade options (Sharp, Small Sample Volumes, Pellets).

NIRS Spectrometer:

• Wavelength Range: 850 – 2500 nm, operates in reflectance mode.
• Detectors: Silicon (800-1100 nm) and Lead Sulfide (1100-2500 nm).
• Signal to noise ratio requirements specified for different regions.
• Data interval/spectral resolution: minimum 0.5 nm.
• Analysis time: less than 1 minute per sample.
• Wavelength precision: <0.005 nm, accuracy: <0.05 nm.
• Optical bandwidth: 8.75 +/- 0.1 nm.
• Absorbance range: </= 2 au.
• Requires standardization to internal/external wavelength reference (SRM-1920a NIST) and external reference correction standard.
• Must include at least two different sample cup sizes (10-20g and 5g), one ring cup holder, and one large cup extension for forage samples.
• Requires a stable platform for varying climates (5-40°C, <93% humidity, dust protection).
• Requires a separate personal computer and monitor.
• On-site staff must be able to change lamp (35W or 50W).
• Software specifications include password protection, compatibility with Dell 64-bit computer, support for various analysis types (PLS, mPLS, MLR, etc.), real-time outlier detection, export capabilities, scheduled diagnostics, Smart Start, and lamp hour indication.
• Requires a phone number for technical support, available during normal business hours (8-4pm EST).
• Minimum one-year full parts and labor warranty.
• Technical support response within 24 hours.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the precise technical specifications and performance requirements for the grinding equipment and NIRS spectrometer. It directly informs the type of equipment that can be proposed and the necessary features and capabilities to meet the government's needs for sample preparation and analysis in agricultural research.