(i) 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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.
(ii) Solicitation 12-5680-20-Q-0006 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ).
(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2020-04, effective 6 May 2020.
(iv) The associated NAICS code is 33399 – All other Misc ellaneous & General Purpose Machinery. PSC code is H266 - Laboratory Equipment, Equipment & Materials - Testing Instruments
(v) Delivery shall be FOB Destination to location identified in this announcement.
(vi) FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (Jan 2017) is hereby incorporated by reference, with the same force and effect as if it were given in full text.
(vii) FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-- Commercial Items (Oct 2014) is hereby incorporated by full text:
a. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The full description of requirements is listed below:
I. Price and II. Technical capability of the solution in accordance with Specifications offered to meet the Government requirement.
Decanter for Thickening Aqueous Suspensions of Cellulose Nanomaterials
Description & Required Specs:
The successful contractor will provide, in accordance with the technical specifications and the contract clauses and provisions here within, continuous processing equipment for thickening aqueous suspensions of cellulosic nanomaterial.
The equipment will include motors and motor controllers, lubrication and cooling systems, as well as system monitoring and control mechanisms for equipment protection and operator safety. The system will include any specialized tools needed to perform regular maintenance of the decanter. Technical specifications are described below. Please describe plumbing, electrical and other utility requirements for operation. Offers must include any costs associated with equipment commissioning that fully enables the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) warranty, e.g., quality controls, training, specialized onsite assembly, etc. All equipment must be delivered no later than 180 calendar days after contract award. All bids will be F.O.B. destination. The exact location for the items to be delivered on the Forest Products Laboratory campus will be coordinated with the identified Point of Contact that will be given at time of award.
Cellulose nanomaterials are produced from lignocellulosic substrates that have been subjected to considerable mechanical and/or chemical treatments producing suspended products, generally in water, that retain the fundamental properties of cellulose but the structural size has been reduced such that at least one of the physical dimensions of a cellulose particle is less than 100 nanometers. In some cases, the surface chemistry of the cellulose particle may have been altered for production or application purposes. In addition to their small size, these materials are also generally hydrophilic in nature, the thickened products can often be best described as soft pastes. Centrifugation is seen as the best method for thickening and isolating these materials during many of the production steps.
Forest Products Laboratory is a research-oriented facility which by its nature looks for versatility in equipment that may potentially serve the needs of other ongoing and future research areas. For example, a centrifuge decanter may also serve to thicken and isolate lignin, other fibrous cellulosic materials, or plastic particles from various process streams.
Technical specifications: Required capabilities of the decanter are described below.
viii. Only emailed offers will be considered. Emails must be sent to the CO identified in this announcment .