PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES OR PROPOSALS, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited

The U.S. Department of Agriculture/ Animal, Plant Health Inspection Services/ Plant Protection and Quarantine / Science and Technology (USDA/APHIS/PPQ/S&T Facility in  in Edinburg, TX  is seeking qualified business entities capable of supplying the following requirement:

1ea Oxford Aztec EDS for the Hitachi Tabletop SEM with Truemap and accessories     Brand Name or Equal in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation  (FAR ) 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal. (AUG 1999)

See attached brochure for more information

52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal. (AUG 1999)

(a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government’s needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that "equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation.

(b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must-

(1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation;

(2) Clearly identify the item by-

(i) Brand name, if any; and

(ii) Make or model number;

(3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and

(4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.

(c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

(d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.

(End of provision)

   Interested sources are encouraged to complete and return Attachment 1 SSPPQ1118207 to the contracting office.  Telephonic inquiries will not be honored.  Please email all questions regarding subject item  prior to Sources Sought closing date to [email protected].   small business concerns, veteran-owned small business concerns, service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, HUBZone small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns, and women-owned small business concerns, and nonprofit concerns are encouraged to participate.  This is not a request for competitive quotes, but instead a market research method to determine interested sources.  A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  No requests for capability briefings will be honored as a result of this notice.  Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature.  Please provide SAM ID Number,  and point of contact information on Attachment_1 SSPPQ1118207.   The Government will not award a contract based on the information received, nor reimburse participants for information or samples they provide.  Information  or materials provided is strictly voluntary. 

Please  Email (only) Attachment  1  to Carol Dingess at [email protected].   Please be sure to include notice # SSPPQ1118207 on subject line.    Telephonic inquiries will not be honored.  Closing date for submissions of Statement’s of Capability is  January 31 at 4:00PM MT.

Anyone  wishing to do business  with the USDA must be listed in the government’s System for Award Management  Registrar now known as SAM.  You may register on line with http://sam.gov  

A prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM   database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from a solicitation.  Vendors  may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through http://sam.gov   or by calling  the  Contractors Registration  hotline @ 1-866-606-8220

The Government intends to provide all information regarding this notice via this web site .   The Federal Government is not responsible for notifications to offerors regarding notices, solicitations  or  amendments.  It is the Vendor’s  responsibility to check this web site   http://sam.gov  periodically for updates.    Telephone and email requests will not be accepted.