THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY and a SOLICITATION IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. This notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation on the part of the Government. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals. Submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary. The government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred associated to this request for capability information. USDA, ARS, National Center Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), Peoria, IL is seeking a contractor to provide a high speed, high pressure homogenizer to support Bioenergy research. The NCAUR is issuing this sources sought to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to provide a high speed, high pressure homogenizer with the following specifications:

1) The homogenizer vessel, rotor, stator, lid, valves, and fittings (i.e. all wetted parts) will be constructed of 316 stainless steel.

2) The homogenizer will be of a bottom drive arrangement with a minimum rotor tip speed of 7000 fpm and will include a shaft seal system rated for a minimum of 200 psi pressure at a temperature of 200 degrees Centigrade. The vessel, and shaft seal system, must be rated for use with dilute sulfuric acid and dilute ammonia at process temperatures and pressures. The vessel will be a 316 stainless steel ASME Code vessel designed and stamped for 200 psig internal at 200degC and will include a heating/cooling jacket rated for 200 psi steam use. Jacket will be cooled with de-ionized water. Jacket inlet and outlet fittings will be ½" NPT half couplings welded to the jacket outer wall. The internal vessel dimensions will be 7" to 8" inside diameter with an overall internal height of 14". The bolted vessel cover will be stainless steel and include two welded 1/2"NPT half couplings for use with an included 4" diameter vessel pressure gauge and the 1/2"NPT pressure relief valve, and a single standard 2" and two standard 1" Tri Clover stubs with flanges, caps and clamps. Vessel will include a 1" nipple welded into the bottom sidewall and a 1"harvest valve rated for vessel operating temperature, pressure, and pH. Vessel and jacket will both include pressure relief valves set for 200psi.

3) This homogenizer will be driven by a 10 horsepower, 480 Volt/60Hz/3 phase motor. The motor will be appropriately rated for the homogenizer's operational load and will be controlled by a variable frequency drive in a NEMA 1 enclosure. Power will be transferred to the operating shaft of the homogenizer unit by a fully guarded V-belt drive arrangement to give a final rotor tip speed of at least 7,000 feet per minute.

4) Homogenizer will include a 4" diameter wide slot rotor and stator assembly. An assortment additional of matching rotor/stator components with medium and fine slots shall be available for future purchase. Rotor and stator components must be easily removable and replaceable.

5) Unit will include a seal and bearing lubrication and cooling supply system to include oil supply pot, oil cooling system, and all interconnecting piping.

6) The homogenizer will be of a unitized layout (with or without casters) and will include a fully plumbed, wired, and interconnected vessel, drive motor, shaft seal and supply system, variable frequency drive and electrical controls. Homogenizer will require only on-site single point mains power connection and jacket supply/return connections by the purchaser to be fully operational.
The result of this market research will contribute to determining whether there are adequate sources available from which to receive competitive quotes.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code to be assigned to this procurement is 333249.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties, who consider themselves qualified to provide the product as detailed are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 12pm, cst, July 29, 2016. If your organization has appropriate qualifications and capacity to provide this product, please provide the following information: (1) A complete and "active registration in SAM (System for Award Management) database which includes DUNS number, Organization name, address, contact name, email address, Web site address, telephone number, type of organization, small business type (if any), etc; (2) A list of previous customers (Federal Preferred) which were provided products similar in nature (3) Color Product Literature showing the features of varying models, types and functions of high speed, high pressure homogenizers which the company has available. Request potential sources only submit the minimum information necessary and no more than 10 pages.

All questions or responses under this Sources Sought Notice shall be sent to Christine Gunterman, Purchasing Agent, via email [email protected], fax 309-681-6682, or mail USDA-ARS-NCAUR, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, 61604. All communication shall be in writing referencing AG-51LA-SS-16-0001 preferably by email. No information will be taken by telephone.

THIS IS A NOTICE FOR SOURCES SOUGHT. No feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. However, NCAUR may contact sources to gather additional information as needed.

 

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