AMENDMENT 0001 (Dated 03/29/2023):
This amendment (0001) is being issued to add a questions and answers document to the solicitation attachments. See the solicitation attachments for the questions and answers document. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12505B23Q0081 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-02. The associated NAICS code is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing; with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees and the PSC code is 6635. This solicitation is a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside.
The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following product(s):
001) Texture Analyzer (Materials Testing) System
Scope of Work:
The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS) Midwest Area (MWA) Administrative Office’s Acquisitions & Personal Property/Fleet Team on behalf of the USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit (VCRU) located at 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 is requesting quotes for a texture analyzer (materials testing) system.
Background:
The measuring part of a texture analyzer consists of a sample stage and a traveling part referred to as a crosshead that moves up and down to compress or stretch a sample. The crosshead is fitted with a load cell which is a sensor to measure the force response of the sample to the deformation imposed on it. Force and traveling distance data are collected and used to determine various textural characteristics using software associated with the texture analyzer. Therefore, the accuracy of the measurement of force and distance is a critical factor for accurately determining textural characteristics. Fruits and vegetable can be very soft or very hard. A wide range of force measurement is thus required. Textural characteristics also depend on the speed of deformation of a sample. A wide range of speed control is thus required.
The USDA-ARS uses texture analyzers to collect invaluable data on textural characteristics of fruits and vegetables. Texture, also referred to as mouthfeel as a general term, is one of the most important quality attributes of plant-based foods. A large number of textural characteristics exist and they are described in the terms such as hardness, firmness, crispiness, crunchiness, toughness, fracturability, and so on. The data collected from texture analyzers will allow us to measure various textural characteristics of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, which will give us a better understanding of the key quality factors of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as plant-based food products.
Technical Requirements:
- Texture analyzer
- Force capacity up to 5 kN or 500 kgf
- Crosshead testing speed range: 0.001 to >2500 mm/min with 0.5% speed and displacement accuracy
- Force verification function
- Displacement verification function
- Software for data acquisition and analysis
- Voltage: 120 V
- Load cells
- 50 N (5 kgf) and 5 kN (500 kgf) with 0.5% accuracy
- Compression plates/probes
- Compression plates capable of testing 1 to 15 cm wide samples
- Puncture test probes
- Installation
- Training
Key Deliverables:
- Texture Analyzer (with Force Verification, Displacement Verification, & Data Acquisition/Analysis Software)
- 50 N (5 kgf) Load Cell(s)
- 5 kN (500 kgf) Load Cell(s)
- Compression Plate(s) for 1 to 15 cm Wide Samples
- Puncture Test Probe(s)
- Shipping/Freight/Delivery
- Installation
- Training
Delivery:
Delivery to Philipp Simon of the USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit (VCRU) located at 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 by 08/31/2023 or as negotiated.
Travel:
To USDA-ARS VCRU located at 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 for installation and training.
Evaluation Factors:
Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, the criteria for evaluation and basis for award will be Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Technical acceptable is define as meeting ALL of the technical requirements identified on the Statement of Work and reiterated in the solicitation description. The Government intends to make one Firm-Fixed Price award based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) quote received. "LPTA" means the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable quote with the lowest evaluated price. The lowest priced quote will be evaluated first; if NOT found technically acceptable, the next lowest priced quote will be evaluated, and so on until a technically acceptable quote is identified. The Government will NOT review higher priced quotes if the lowest (or a lower) priced quote is determined to be technically acceptable.
Submitting a Quote:
Failure to demonstrate compliance with ALL instructions presented herein will constitute sufficient cause to reject a quote without further discussions. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be put into considered for award.
Vendors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-1. The applicable FAR clauses and provisions for this acquisition are included in the attachments to this solicitation. The Government anticipates making one Firm-Fixed Price award.
Vendors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote along with all other requested and required documentation (such as completed FAR provisions) to be included as part of ALL offeror’s responses. The quote should include any and all fees, charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase.
The solicitation attachments include FAR clauses, a Statement of Work (SOW), Specifications, and FAR provisions. Be sure to read and review ALL of the attachments and to complete any and ALL additional documentation required as part of your quote submission. Of critical importance is to review the SOW as it contains the requirements for this acquisition.
In addition, all submissions should include the FAR clauses and provisions completed in their entirety. The FAR clauses and provisions constitute the terms and conditions for submitting a quote in response to this solicitation as well as the terms and conditions of the anticipated award. The FAR provisions apply to the solicitation and submission of quotes. The FAR clauses apply to the solicitation and submission of quotes as well as to the resulting award. The FAR clauses will be included as part of the resulting award. Please review ALL of the FAR clauses and provisions and be certain to complete all of the FAR clauses and provisions that require the offerors impute (i.e. all boxes are checked and all blanks are filled in).
Please ensure your quote will be current and that the price quoted will NOT expire for a minimum of 30 days.
To be eligible to be put into consideration for award, ALL vendors who respond to this solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration at the time their quote is submitted. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required in order to register. Vendors must also include their UEI# on their quote.
The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting award will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting award. Invoices to be billed quarterly in arrears.
Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted (NO verbal quotes made by phone call, quotes submitted by USPS mail, or quotes submitted in the body of an email). Please email all quotes in writing along with completed FAR clauses and provisions as well as ALL other requested and required documentation to aaron.dimeo@usda.gov by NO later than Wednesday March 29, 2023 at 5:00 PM Central Time (CT).
NOTE: Be absolutely certain to reference the RFQ number “12505B23Q0081” and/or title of the solicitation “Texture Analyzer (Materials Testing) System” in the subject, body, and/or attachments on your quote submission email to ensure your submission can be located and attributed to this solicitation. Failure to do so could potentially result in your submission being deemed “unresponsive” and as a result your quote may NOT be put into consideration for award (as your quote may NOT be located when searching the recipients email to ensure all responses to the solicitation have been logged before making an award determination).
