SPECIAL NOTICE
66 -- Water-Based Cottonscope Instrument
- Notice Date
- 2/24/2011
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Mid South Area, SRRC, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70124, United States
- ZIP Code
- 70124
- Solicitation Number
- AG-7B31-S-11-0001
- Archive Date
- 3/26/2011
- Point of Contact
- Ida J Lirette, Phone: 504-286-4320
- E-Mail Address
-
ida.lirette@ars.usda.gov
(ida.lirette@ars.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Special Notice AG-7B31-S-11-0001 Synopsis: This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 to Cottonscope Pty Ltd., 13 Willcock Street Ardross, Western Australia, 5153. This procurement is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Cottonscope Pty Ltd. is the only known source that provides the water-based Cottonscope instrument which meets SRRC's specific requirements. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. The NACIS code applicable to this acquisition is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. There is no set-aside for this acquisition. All qualified vendors are encouraged to submit a proposal. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 1:00 p.m. EST on March 11, 2011. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. No RFP will be issued based upon this Notice of Intent. Interested parties may submit any information for consideration by the Government to ida.lirette@ars.usda.gov with the Solicitation No. AG-7B31-S-11-0001 in the subject line. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES: General: The Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) performs research and investigations on cotton fiber and products, commodity products, Formosan subterranean termites, and food and feed safety-both fundamental and applied research. Many OSQR and externally supported research programs include investigations of key products and properties using new microscopy and imaging techniques. Image analysis and polarized light microscopy are common cotton fiber techniques. The unique combination of these two research techniques-image analysis and polarized light microscopy - in combination with a water-based instrument greatly expand the capabilities of SRRC scientists to perform cutting-edge research and scientific investigations for cotton fiber properties such as fiber maturity, fineness (linear density in mass per unit length), and ribbon width. At present, SRRC is evaluating the Cottonscope Pty Ltd's water-based Cottonscope instrument to rapidly, precisely, and accurately measure these key fiber properties. Instrument Specifications: 1. Water-based measurement of cotton fiber maturity, fineness, and ribbon width using image analysis and polarized light microscopy on weighted cotton fiber samples. The cotton fiber sample size should be fiber snippets or whole fibers weighing between 25-100 milligrams. 2. For cut fiber snippets or samples, the sample cutter system must be able to produce consistent cut fiber that is weighted on a balance as cut. 3. The instrument system and accessories must be modular in nature and readily transportable form one location to another. 4. The water-based image analysis + polarized microscopy instrument and sample preparation/cutting system must match all specifications of the Cottonscope quote (refer to quotation and Cottonscope web-site for details). 5. Only new or slightly used original-vendor demonstration water-based image analysis + polarized microscopy instruments, with full warranties and services, will be considered. Software Specifications: The water-based image analysis + polarized light microscopy instrument must come with its own operational, diagnostic, measurement/testing, computational/calculations, control, and graphics software package(s). 1. The software packages must be able to operate on a computer with Windows operating system (XP or higher). 2. The instrument software interfaces the sample preparation/cutting, instrument, and computer components; operates the instrument; and performs measurements, data pre-processing, quantitative determinations, and instrument status and diagnostics. The data can be exported to other programs. 3. The software must include and/or display fiber distributions/histograms for maturity and ribbon width. 4. The software must include the image/sample view of the fiber measurements as they occur. Service/Support Specifications: 1. The vendor will provide in-depth technical support for the operation, software, maintenance, and method development programs/components image analysis + polarized light microscopy instrument. 2. Services, parts, and accessories purchased must be warranted for at least 1 year (either on-site or return to factory warranty). 3. Two year no cost software upgrades and support. Contracting Office Address: USDA/ARS/MSA/SRRC Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305 or P.O. Box 19681 New Orleans, LA 70179
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/ARS/SRRC/AG-7B31-S-11-0001 /listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC), 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70124, United States
- Zip Code: 70124
- Zip Code: 70124
- Record
- SN02387051-W 20110226/110224234620-a71227d0b4135db300a2513be976274f (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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