This is a sources sought notice as a means of conducting market research. The USDA APHIS is seeking all interested small business sources capable of providing Ochratoxin A tests that meet the following specifications.
1. Use a water-based (no organic solvents) method for the extraction Ochratoxin A.
2. Analyze Ochratoxin A of the following commodities: wheat (including whole grain wheat flour, wheat middlings, wheat red dog, wheat flour 2nd clear, and wheat screenings.)
3. Analyze Ochratoxin A with a testing range of 5 to 100 parts per billion (ppb) for all the commodities listed above.
4. Complete sample extraction and analysis in 30 minutes or less and must be simple to use.
5. Have a minimum shelf life of three months for all components of the test kit. Test kits requiring refrigeration will be considered, but storage at room temperature (64-74 °F) is preferred. Test kits requiring storage below 33 °F shall not be considered.
Ochratoxin A is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus. Wet and cool weather conditions from flowering to maturity promotes the infection, which results in scab or head blight in wheat and other grains and commodities.
There is no solicitation currently. This is only a sources sought notice for market research purposes; responses will be used to determine whether this requirement may be set-aside for small business or procured through full and open competition. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for quote; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.
If you are an interested vendor, please provide the following information:
1) Business name and contact information
2) Business Size and confirmation of registration in SAM.gov by providing your SAM UEI Code
3) Capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of meeting the specifications and any additional informaiton required to understand the test kit that would be supplied to USDA.
Electronic responses are required. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.
Interested parties who provide this product in accordance with the specifications provided are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice no later than Friday, October 3rd at 3pm ET. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Caroline Russell at, caroline.russell@usda.gov
