This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in 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. Solicitation number 12505B21Q0169 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-06. The associated NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees and the PSC code is 6640.

The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following products:

001) Two Controlled Environment Plant Growth Chambers

Scope of Work:

The USDA-ARS Edward R. Madigan Laboratory (ERML) in Urbana, IL is requesting quotes for two controlled environment plant growth chambers. The first is a five-level chamber suitable for tissue culture and germinating plants on plates. The second is a three-level chamber for growing smaller species and immature plants.

Background:

Chambers such as these ensure optimal conditions for seed germination and plant establishment leading to more consistent and reproducible experiments when the plants are transferred to larger chambers, the greenhouse, or field. Furthermore, they will increase the capacity for generating and screening transgenic plants.

Technical Requirements: 

Chambers that meet the following specifications are needed.

• Temperature control between 10-44°C (±0.5°C)
• LED lighting to reduce heat output
• Dimmable lighting
• Open loop lighting to control each tier individually
• Light intensity: at least 350 µmol/m2/s
• Tiers: 3 / 5
• Shelving floor area of at 1.75 m2 (3 tier)/ 2.5 m2 (5 tier)
• Minimum growth height: 30 cm (3 tier) / 15 cm (5 tier)
• Maximum exterior dimensions (w x d x h): 1.05 m (3 tier) / 0.9 m (5 tier) x 0.9 m x 2 m
• Air diffuser insulation for shelving
• Integrated floor drain
• Adjustable high/low audible and visual temperature alarms

Name Brand or Equal: Percival Scientific AR-41L3 Q23+ and CU-36L5 Q23+

Note: Quoted products should be USA Manufactured if at all possible.

Evaluation Factors: 

Lowest price, technically acceptable. The government intends to award a firm-fixed price award based on the lowest price technically acceptable product. The lowest priced product will be evaluated first; if not found acceptable, the next lowest priced product will be evaluated, and so on until an acceptable product is identified. The government will not review higher priced products if the lowest priced product is determined to be technically acceptable. For a vendor’s products to be considered technically acceptable, they must meet all of the technical requirements identified in the solicitation.

Key Deliverables:

• Five (5) Tier Controlled Environment Plant Growth Chamber
• Three (3) Tier Controlled Environment Plant Growth Chamber
• Delivery

Delivery:

Delivery is to be made to the Edward R. Madigan Laboratory at 1201 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801 by or before December 31, 2021.

The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination. Location of the Government site is aboard USDA-ARS Urbana, IL and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract.

Submitting a Quote:

To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A contractor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register. Vendor must also include their DUNS# on their quote.

Also, to be eligible, all vendors must be NDAA 889 Certified. If they do not currently have a NDAA 889 Certification, then they must complete the attached NDAA 889 Certification form and submit it to [email protected] so that they can be added to the list of NDAA 889 Certified vendors.

The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting contract.  

Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote on SF 1449 (see attached). The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please email all quotes in writing on the SF 1449 to [email protected] by no later than Monday, September 13, 2021 at 5:00 PM Central Standard Time.

Questions in regards to this combined synopsis/solicitation must be submitted through email and are due no later than 5:00 PM CST on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation.