The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Midwest Area awarded a $40,507.25 firm fixed-price purchase order to Brinkmann Instruments, Inc. (doing business as Metrohm USA Inc.) on May 16, 2024, for the procurement of a Rancimat 892 oxidation stability analysis machine. The contract, with an ultimate completion date of September 16, 2024, was awarded without a set-aside designation through unrestricted full and open competition. The equipment will be manufactured and delivered from Switzerland and is designed to determine the oxidative stability index of fats, oils, and biodiesel in compliance with official Association of Official Analytical Collaboration and International Organization for Standardization methods. The machine meets the technical specifications outlined in the pre-solicitation notice, including eight sample locations, a temperature range of 50-220 degrees Celsius, and an air flow range of 1-25 liters per hour.
Brinkmann Instruments, a small business headquartered in Riverview, Florida, is the exclusive authorized distributor of Metrohm brand laboratory equipment to federal agencies and has established a strong track record with over 80 prime federal contract awards totaling more than $2.5 million. The company's extensive experience supplying analytical instrumentation to USDA, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Department of Defense entities positions it as a capable vendor for this specialized equipment procurement. This award reflects sustained federal demand for the company's analytical laboratory solutions and supports USDA research initiatives requiring advanced oxidation stability testing capabilities.