6 Row Vaccum Plot Planter

Solicitation No. 2008-4431-010

The USDA, ARS, Mid South Area, intends to Sole Source purchase 6 Row Vaccum Plot Planter from Seed Research Equipment Solutions.   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; bids are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.  Solicitation number 2008-4431-010 is being issued as an Invitation for Bid.  This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12.  Offerors are to provide a bid for the following:

SPECIFICATIONS:

Specifications for 6 Row Vacuum Plot Planter

USE of PLANTER: Planter will be used to plant variable length research plots of cotton, corn, soybeans, and other row crops.  Plot lengths will vary across experiments.  Plots length, seed spacing and number of seed per hill will also vary within the same experiment.  Thus, seed spacing and plot length must be easily changed and controllable via computer and must be capable of preprogramming before entering the field.  As few as 5 seed will be planted in some plots.  Planter shall be capable of manual tripping by operator and also shall be upgradable to GPS control of tripping.  Planter will have human operators riding on the unit, so operator comfort, ease of operation, communication, and safety are of primary importance.  

SPECIFICATIONS:  Planter shall be equal to a Monosem 6-row Advanced Mounted (Base Unit 38 inch row spacing), includes 7 x 7 inch tool bar, 450 rpm turbo fan with power take off (pto) drive and gauge, (2) wheel assembly, (6) row units with depth gauge wheels and disc-style closing wheels, seed discs for each row, seed tubes w/sensor, SRES Manifold system, 6 inches from fan to manifold, outlets at 1 ½ inch and 2 inch for each row, Seed scrapers and collars with SRES fan shaft, less transmission.  Planter shall have 6 SRES sure plant cover assemblies or equal.  Planter shall have a 6 row operator platform assembly.  Planter shall have Big John Hammerhead Computer and controls or equal.

Planter shall be a SRES 6 row advanced vacuum plot planter with Monosem row units, Monosem seed meters equipped with seed inserts, and with dual insecticide/herbicide units, or equal.

Plot planter shall maintain the integrity of Monosem row units and Monosem seed meters or equal with as few moving parts as possible.

Plot planter shall also meet the following specifications OR EQUAL.

1. SRES Part number 6000273 or equal   Control system Big John
2. SRES Part number 6000460 or equal   Cover assembly sureplant (quantity 6)
3. SRES Part number 6000283 or equal   Handrail assembly serving all 6 rows
4. SRES Part number 6000279 or equal   Wireless headsets for 6 rows, (quantity 4 )
5. SRES Part number 9001029 or equal   Monosem 6 row insecticide/herbicide dual system
6. SRES Part number 9000734 or equal   Monosem Yetter residue manager assembly for 6 row
7. SRES Part number 9001025 or equal   Monosem gauge wheel scraper for each of 6 row
8. SRES Part number 9001032 or equal   Monosem seed disc 3635 for cotton, (quantity 6)
9. SRES Part number 9001051 or equal   Monosem seed disc 6035 for cotton, (quantity 6 )
10. SRES Part number 9000488 or equal   Monosem seed disc 7235 for cotton (quantity 6)
11.  Monosem seed disc 2 seed 1230D (quantity 6) or equal
12.  Monosem seed disc 1830T (quantity 6) or equal
13. SRES Part number 6000497 or equal   Operator platform assembly, 6 rows, air shock seats
14. SRES Part number 9001191 or equal   Seed tube extension for each of 6 rows
15. SRES Part number 6000244 or equal   Monosem 6 row advanced mounted system
16. SRES Part number 9001062 or equal   Disc closing wheels for each of 6 rows
17.  Shall have rubber tire press wheels for each of 6 rows
18.  Shall have double disc furrow openers rubber gauge wheels
19.  Shall have easily changed seed plates and dividers.
20. Shall allow seed for 2 plots on a single seed plate at the same time.
21. Shall have fully adjustable air shock rider seats with seat belts mounted on a wide platform with a hand rail safety system that allows for operators safe movement around on the planter.
22. Shall have sureplate cover assembly with polyurethane molded inserts that allow every seed to be planted or evacuated in less than 1 second into a centralized evacuation tank. 
23. Shall have clear view see through staging gate for each row unit that is easily observed from planter.
24. Shall have advanced Big John Hammerhead Computer and Controls or equvilent.  Shall be fully programmable Hammerhead xtreme Windows XP ruggedized computer.  Controls shall provide for sharp alleys which require no trimming to correct plot length.  Controls shall allow for pre-field setup of planting pattern, with up to 9 preset populations, variable from plot to plot.  Unit shall be capable of single or multiple seed drop with infinite seed spacing capabilities, controlled by computer.  Shall have real time display showing seed drop, number of seed dropped, seed spacing, and alley display.  Shall have field mapping capabilities that allow for storage and readout of planted populations for each row.
25.  Planting depth shall be easily adjustable for each row unit.
26. One year warranty shall include 24 hour service during planting season of March 15 to June 15.
27.  Planter shall be delivered to USDA, ARS, Plant Science Research Center, Highway 82E. Mississippi State, MS.
28.  Company shall provide customized training in operation of system.

This equipment shall be delivered F.O.B. Destination to the USDA, ARS, located in Mississippi State, MS.

"This procurement requires the use of biobased products to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced.  Where available, these products should first be acquired from among qualified products that fall under the umbrella of items designated through the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program (FB4P)"

Equipment Line Items:

                                                                                                                                UNIT

 NO.     SUPPLIES/SERVICES                                          QTY        UNIT     PRICE         AMOUNT

01      6 Row Vaccum Plot Planter                                     1            EA       $________     $________

                                                                                                              TOTAL      $________                      

All systems and components shall be provided with a one (1) year warranty from the time of owner's acceptance.  The warranty shall cover all parts, labor and material.  Delivery of the unit by the instrument vendor must be within 15 days of award of contract.

1. ALL RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A BID FOR CONSIDERATION.  Bid prices shall include all necessary labor, parts, materials, and transportation necessary to delivered FOB Destination a 6 Row Vaccum Plot Planter to USDA, ARS, Hwy. 82E. Mississippi State, MS.

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):  www.arnet.gov/far/.  FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, Far 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, FAR 52.212.4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders - Commercial Items apply to this acquisition. 

All systems and components shall be provided with a one (1) year warranty from the time of owner's acceptance. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor and material. 

Offers are to include a 30 calendar day acceptance period.  All bids are due by 2:00 p.m. (CST), May 28, 2008 at the USDA, ARS, MSA, Procurement Assistance Office, 141 Experiment Station Road, P.O. Box 225, Stoneville, MS 38776-0225 faxed to 662-686-5373 or emailed to [email protected].  Delivery of the unit by the equipment vendor must be within 15 days of award of contract.  The Point of contact for this project is Terry Jones (662) 686-3038 or [email protected].