USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53705-2398

36 -- PAPER INDUSTRIES MACHINERY/ACCESSORIES SOL RFP-FPL-00-08 DUE 060800 POC Christina Shade (608)231-9285 WEB: Click here to obtain referenced FAR Provisions and, http://www.arnet.gov/far/. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer, cshade@fs.fed.us. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation: proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This request for proposals RFP-FPL-00-08 is for providing a Fiber Length Analyzer (as described below) to be delivered FOB Destination to the USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 507 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705-2398. Inspection and acceptance will be at destination. Offerors shall indicate time for delivery, but it is desired within 30 days ARO. When responding to this request, please indicate on your outer envelope in the lower left-hand corner; "RFP-FPL-00-08, DUE 06/08/00, 2:00PM". The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-17 (4/25/2000). They are located in Part 52 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. They can be found on the Internet at the URL noted at the end of this notice. FAR Provision 52.212-1 (MAR 2000), Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. SIC Code is 3554 with a size standard limit of 500 employees to be considered as a small business applies. This acquisition is a small business set-aside. Offerors shall include a completed copy of this provision at FAR 52.212-3 (FEB 2000), Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with their offer. FAR Clause 52.212-4 (FEB 2000), Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR Clause 52-212-5 (FEB 2000), Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive orders-Commercial Items, applies to this order and the additional clauses referenced in part (b) are items (11-15 and 17(i)). EVALUATION: Responses will be evaluated using simplified acquisition procedures (FAR 13.106-2). Selection will be made from the source, which in the opinionof the Government offers the best value. Note that award may be made without further discussions. The criteria considered will be TECHNICAL (capability of offered item to meet the agency need with particular emphasis on maximum fiber length measured), PRICE (total price inclusive of shipping charges,) WARRANTY offered, TECHNICAL SUPPORT offered (including availability of manufacturer support, service, and parts-current and future), EXPERIENCE supplying similar equipment to pulp and paper mills, and pulp and paper research laboratories (provide a list of customers in the pulp and paper industries that have previously purchased this equipment), and quality of PAST PERFORMANCE. Relative importance of the criteria will be determined on a "best value" basis by the government. RESPONSES SHALL ADDRESS ALL OF THESE AREAS. Offerors shall also submit descriptive product literature and it is helpful to compare technical features against the requirements listed in the Item Description following. -- -ITEM DESCRIPTION: The USDA Forest Products Laboratory requires a fiber length analyzer with the following minimum specifications: (1) measures fiber curl, (2) measures fiber kink, (3) be able to measure automatically pulp and agricultural fiber length longer than 7 mm, (4) measures fiber coarseness, (5) meet TAPPI T-271 "Fiber length of pulp and paper by automated optical analyzer using polarized light" test method, (6) provide calibration standards, (7) two copies of the fiber length analyzer manual, and (8) provide a list of customers in the pulp and paper industries that have previously purchased this equipment. See Note 1. Posted 05/16/00 (W-SN455353). (0137)

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