The USDA, ARS, LSO intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source Growth Curves USA LLC., 11 Blueberry Ct. Piscataway, NJ 08854 to purchase a Bioscreen C system. The unit must be able to directly measure microbial growth by measuring increases in turbidity of the growth medium during incubation of microbial cultures. The unit must have an optical density reader that is more sensitive than a spectrophotometer and can measure turbidity during growth the unit to generate optical density curves that reflect growth of microorganisms. The reader must be equipped with 8 filters to generate specific light wavelengths used to measure optical density. The unit should be able to hold two special 10 X 10 well Honeycomb microplates where the cultures will be placed in 400 micro liter wells which will allow the unit to run 200 samples simultaneously. The unit must also have an incubator that incorporates a liquid heat exchange to provide constant temperatures to all wells during incubation. The microplates must be designed to provide a uniform temperature across each of the 100 wells of both plates, and the plates should have a fitted lid that is able to eliminate condensation and evaporation during culture incubation. The unit should also have a linear or orbital shaker to assure thorough mixing of cultures in each well. The unit should be able to be computer operated by Bioscreener software that that will allow the user to design, control, and analyze experiments. The software should allow the user to select when the experiment is started, which wells will be read, which light filters will be used, what temperatures will be run, how much shaking samples will receive, intervals of measurement, and length of the run.

The government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the specifications will be most advantageous to the Government. PAYMENT: Any award made under this solicitation is subject to 31 CFR Part 208 which requires all payments made by the government to be made by electronic funds transfer. Please note on your proposal if you will accept a government purchase (VISA) card. This solicitation incorporates the following FAR clauses, provisions and addendums: 52-212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Item; 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items - annual representations and certifications are required. Offers shall include a statement as follows on their offer: the offeror verifies by submission of this offer that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically at https://www.sam.gov have been entered or updated in the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard applicable to the NAICS code referenced for this solicitation), as of the date of this offer and are incorporated in this offer by reference, except for paragraphs ______________; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. In paragraph B of 52.212-5, the following apply: 52.219-28, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-36, 52.225-3, 52.225-13, and 52.225-33. In the event the vendor will accept payment via the Government Purchase Card (VISA), the vendor shall annotate on its offer that it will accept the purchase card, and clause 52.232-33 will be superseded by clause 52.232-36. All sources wishing to provide a quotation must respond by 5:00 PM, July 29, 2014. Quotations should be addressed to USDA, ARS, LSO 950 College Station Rd, Athens, GA 30605. POC is Kelly Bero, Purchasing Agent, 706/546-3025. Faxed or emailed responses are acceptable. All responses will be evaluated to determine the equipment's capability to meet the above requirements.

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