Parker Print Surface Roughness Tester
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The USDA Forest Service, specifically the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, is seeking to purchase a Parker Print Surface Roughness Tester. This equipment is crucial for measuring the surface roughness of various materials, including paper, board, films, and foils, to simulate printing press operations and evaluate surfaces for packaging and electronic circuits. This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside. Offers are due by January 26, 2026, at 4:59 PM UTC.
Scope of Work
The required Parker Print Surface Roughness Tester will replace an inoperable and unsupported unit. It must utilize an air-leak method with adjustable pressure to mimic ink application, ensuring consistent and relevant smoothness testing for print quality and ink holdout.
Key Requirements & Deliverables
- One (1) Parker Print Surface Roughness Tester.
- Calibration Samples: A set of calibrated paper references, consisting of 10 pieces each for Low (1.47 microns), Medium (3.21 microns), and High (4.30 microns).
- The tester must meet or exceed the salient characteristics of the Techni dyne PROFILE/Plus PPS, including a roughness range of 0.2 – 15.0µm, specific clamp pressure capabilities, and conformance to ISO 8791/4 and TAPPI T555 standards.
- Offerors proposing "equal" items must provide descriptive literature demonstrating compliance.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Firm-Fixed Price (anticipated).
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business.
- NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (Size Standard: 1,000 Employees).
- Delivery: Within 90 calendar days after award; early deliveries accepted.
- Period for Acceptance of Offers: 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.
- Offer Due Date: January 26, 2026, 4:59 PM UTC.
- Questions Due: January 24, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.
- Published Date: January 14, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
- Submission: Contractors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.
- Evaluation: Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government, based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria.
- Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness.
- Technical Acceptability will be evaluated based on meeting or exceeding salient characteristics.
- Questions: Submit via email to Shannon Wrobel (shannon.wrobel@usda.gov) with a courtesy copy to Laniece.nixon@usda.gov.
Additional Notes
- Shipping instructions: Items to be shipped to Forest Products Laboratory, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53726.
- The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference; full text is available at www.acquisition.gov.