THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NNOTICE ONLY and a SOLICITATION IS NOTCURRENTLY 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 bench-top fermentation system to support Bioenergy research. The NCAUR is issuing this sources sought to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to provide a bench-top fermentation system with the following specifications:

1) The system must have a single controller for independent control of a minimum of four (4) culture
vessels
2) Have independent control of pH, gassing, dosing, heating/cooling and agitation for a minimum of
Four (4) vessels
3) The system must have continuous controlled feeds with at least two (2) lines/vessel
4) The working volume must be as low as 60ml and as high as 250ml
5) Must have PC interface capabilities and provide dedicated PC for the system, with software and
licenses included and operate in Windows environment and have USB ports
6) The system must have variable speed drive motors for independent control to each vessel
7) For mixing solids-containing cultures, the system needs to have an over-head drive capable of
3000 RPM
8) The system must have a Peltier cooling temperature control system because the temperature must
be precisely controlled during fermentations
9) The system must be expandable with potential for up to approximately 24 fermentation vessels
Controlled independently in parallel
10) The system must continuously monitor readings of pH and pO2 for all vessels; and must regulate
pH by automatic addition of base/acid and pO2 by controlled gas flow
11) Must use standard pH and pO2 sensors
12 Must have the capacity for seamless integration of off-gas analyzing system with control software
13) On-site training/installation and follow-up support for protocol design

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code to be assigned to this procurement is 334516.

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 12:00pm cst, July 18, 2014. 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 Injection Molders which the company has available. Request potential sources only submit the minimum information necessary.

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-14-0002 preferably by email. No information will be taken by telephone.

THIS IS A NOTICE FOR SOURCES SOUGHT. No feed back 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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