A1 SOW HVI IDIQ for Pre-solicitation.docx

C.1. SPECIFICATIONS

C.1.1. The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Cotton and Tobacco Program (C&T) requires a contract for the acquisition of Cotton Testing Instruments (CTI) over this 10-year IDIQ contract. CTI is interchangeable with High Volume Instrument (HVI). The contract shall include a full commercial warranty and provide for all service maintenance through June 30th of the following year after acceptance. Offerors shall quote prices for 4 different CTI configurations. Each of the options below shall qualify as a CTI under this contract and count toward the maximum ceiling of $50mil set for this IDIQ contract.

Option 1: Complete Instrument – Length, Strength, Uniformity and Micronaire (LS) cabinet with Color/Trash (CT) cabinet in both coupled and decoupled capable modes. All paragraphs in section “C” of this SOW pertain to this option. CTIs are to be designed with two independent cabinets. One independent cabinet for Length/Strength/Uniformity and Micronaire and another independent cabinet for color/trash imaging.

Option 2: Length/Strength cabinet. This cabinet is identical to the LS cabinet from Option 1. This option is the LS cabinet only. All paragraphs relating to the specifications, testing, measurements, and methodology of Strength, Length, Uniformity, and Micronaire are used in this option. This cabinet shall be able to connect to CT cabinets purchased by USDA in 2020 and later including CT cabinets purchase under this IDIQ, allowing the LS and CT to function as a coupled CTI.

Option 3: Color/Trash cabinet. This cabinet is identical to the CT cabinet in Option 1. All paragraphs pertaining to the Color and Trash specifications, testing, measurements, and methodology are used in this option. This cabinet shall be able to connect to LS cabinet purchased by USDA in 2020 and later, including LS cabinets purchased under this IDIQ, allowing the CT and LS to function as a coupled CTI.

Option 4: Automated Color/Trash cabinet. Please refer to Section C.2.50 for specifications of this option. The difference between Option 3 & 4 pertains to the integration with C&Ts automated conveyance systems.

USDA shall have the right to order the options above in different quantities each year.

C.1.2. Accceptance Offerors shall provide pricing for all quantities and options in the Schedule (SF-1449). The acceptance date shall be the date on which all CTIs delivered under this solicitation successfully complete all performance requirements as stated in Section E.1 (d). However, in the event one or more CTIs cannot be qualified, the CTIs passing qualification will be paid for in the terms of the contract and once the affected CTIs have been repaired and qualified, they can be billed and paid for in a separate invoice.

C.1.3. The Contractor shall furnish, as required, the equipment, software, full service commercial warranty, and other services required for the installation and support of all items supplied under this contract. Such equipment, software, maintenance, and other Contractor support services shall conform to the terms and conditions of this contract. The Contractor shall propose only new equipment. New equipment is defined as equipment of recent manufacture not previously delivered to any user.

C.1.4. The Contractor shall provide C&T with an inventory of all CTI components, CAD drawing, or other breakdown list of components, along with all accessory equipment, including manuals, at the time CTIs are delivered. The list/CAD/breakdown of components will be used by USDA for ordering replacement parts in the event a worn out or malfunctioning part needs to be replaced through the life of the unit. C&T shall verify and acknowledge receipt of all equipment and manuals delivered. The packing list from the shipping company is not acceptable.

C1.5. Each CTI will have a module testing mode, diagnostics mode, and calibration mode.

C1.6 Pricing Table

C.2. MANDATORY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

C.2.1. Overall size of a CTI shall not exceed a width of 4 feet, a tabletop height of 4 feet, and a length of 10 feet in a straight-line configuration. The CTIs shall be configured for operation other than in a straight line. C&T must approve such configuration prior to delivery. C&T may operate the CTIs in the configuration it deems to its advantage. The configuration of the overall CTIs shall, in the judgment of C&T, lend itself to ease and practicality of operation in a high-volume production environment. The CTIs shall be mounted on lockable casters that shall provide a minimum of 3 inches of clearance from the floor to the lowest point of the instrument. This shall not interfere with the current instrumentation height as related to the tabletop, conveyance system and the sample eject. CTIs shall be designed to facilitate disposal of waste sample portions and micronaire plugs. CTIs shall contain a lid latch for each hinged lid that protects the operator from dangerous machine components. The lid latch shall latch upon lid closure and will require some type of vendor supplied universal tool for opening the lid latch. Each hinged lid shall be supported by a lift assisted device that ensures level opening and closing operation. The device must include a mechanical lock to prevent accidental closure due to cylinder failure. A viewing window of the primary sample preparation and testing area shall be designed into any cabinet cover/hood. All requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shall be rigidly complied with by the CTIs provided under this contract.

C.2.2. The CTIs shall provide measurements of fiber length, fiber mean length, fiber length uniformity index, short fiber index, 1/8-inch gage fiber strength, micronaire reading, fiber color Rd, fiber color +b, trashmeter percent area, trashmeter particle count of trash, leaf grade and moisture. The CTI may have the ability to measure extraneous matter for testing and research purposes only and will not be evaluated under this solicitation. The moisture content measurement shall be a single measurement made at the comb and not require additional operator intervention. The length and length uniformity measures shall be made by scanning a suitably prepared tapered beard and measuring, by the fibrogram method, the length equivalent to the USDA evaluation cotton to the nearest one-hundredth of an inch, the mean length to the nearest one-hundredth of an inch, and the fiber length uniformity index equivalent to the ratio of the mean length to upper half mean length expressed as a percentage and reported to the nearest one-tenth unit. The CTIs in maintenance mode shall output the fibrogram used to calculate the upper half mean length, mean length, and fiber length uniformity index and this fibrogram shall be available for USDA to acquire and download from the CTI screen display in a specified mode and be capable of printing on a C&T supplied printer, connected directly to the CTI. The fiber strength measurement shall be made on the same tapered beards used for the length measurement, with the jaws of the clamps spaced one-eighth inch apart. The CTIs shall output results in grams per tex to the nearest one-tenth unit.

C.2.3. CTIs in maintenance mode shall output force-extension (stress-strain) data. These data will be printed on a C&T supplied printer connected directly to the CTIs and/or displayed on the CTI’s screen display.

C.2.4. The brushing pressure shall be adjustable. The brusher assembly shall have parameter(s) which provides an indication of % of change in brushing pressure which will alert the operator of an “out of tolerance” change in the established brushing pressure.

C.2.5. The CTI shall require no human input or interaction to obtain the micronaire measurement. The CTI shall utilize one of the length/strength samples to obtain the micronaire measurement. The automatic micronaire system shall accept a mass range from 8 grams to 15 grams. The micronaire chamber size shall be controlled by servomotors. The use of pneumatic cylinders is unacceptable. Samples presented to the sampler drum, regardless of the method of collection, that are within the prescribed mass range shall be transported and loaded into the automatic micronaire cylinder without impeding normal system testing operation. The sample drum shall be designed to retain the entire specimen, received from either manual delivery or by mechanical means, in the drum to ensure delivery of the entire sample specimen into the automatic micronaire assembly and to prevent sample fibers from falling into the interior of the cabinet.

C.2.5.1. The micronaire shall be measured by passing a stream of air through a specimen of cotton fibers which have a mass range of a minimum of 8 grams to a maximum of 15 grams in a fixed chamber. The results shall be reported in standard micronaire units to the nearest one-hundredth unit.

C.2.6. Color shall be measured by illuminating a sample of cotton and measuring the percent reflectance and yellowness of a 9-square-inch area of the sample within +/- 0.1 square inches. The length of the area measured shall not exceed 3.75 inches and the width of the area measured shall not be less than 2.75 inches. Results will be reported in Rd and +b to the nearest one-tenth unit. CTIs shall also output the color code for the Upland or American Pima grade and, for Upland grades, the quadrant of the color code. The color code reported by the CTIs must conform to the C&T’s instrument Color Grade Lookup Chart, which is based on the Rd and +b readings. CTIs shall allow color and trash calibration checks while in production mode without changing menu screens. Xenon or LED shall be used as the source of illumination for color and trash measurements. CTIs shall be designed to provide minimal shock to color heads when color measurements are made. The colorheads shall be dust proof. Colorhead hand pressure shall have its own independently adjustable air pressure regulator with a direct reading gauge near the point of adjustment. The upper colorhead shall be designed with a floating head to accommodate varying thickness of the cotton sample. A device to measure colorhead pressure when the upper head is in the down position will be permanently installed on the instrument. Output of the device will be displayed in sample testing and diagnostic menus. The installation and operation of the device shall not impede throughput.

C.2.7. The LS CTI in automatic mode will be started by an external sample delivery system with an electronic start signal. Upon completion of testing the LS CTI will transmit the test data for the bale to the host computer. Additionally, the LS CTI will send a “completed” signal to an external conveyance/control system and return to a ready state to receive the arrival of the next sample. A “Ready” signal shall be sent to an external conveyance control system when the instrument is ready to receive another sample.

C.2.8. The CTI in manual mode will be operated by a human operator. The LS and CT cabinets shall be capable of both coupled and decoupled operation. The start control of each cabinet (LS and CT) will be initiated by the operator. The data will be transmitted to the host computer upon completion of testing. The operator will use a barcoded bale identification tag to input the bale identification information in the instrument. The software/hardware shall be designed so that each unit of the CTI “automatically knows” the configuration status, (e.g., Manual or Automatic). The CTIs shall have the necessary covers, locks, etc. to provide protection from moving parts while interacting with the CTI.

C.2.9. The CTI software shall provide the necessary “user responses” required for human operation (manual configuration). The software shall be written so that both the LS and the CT cabinets may be turned off from configuration menu. The CTIs shall be capable of sending a complete record with bale identification to a host computer server independent of the other unit.

C.2.10. When the LS cabinet is turned off the system will transmit “dummy” LS data to the host computer server. The actual Color/Trash data as measured by the CT cabinet will be transmitted to the host computer along with the “dummy” LS data. The actual data string will be provided upon contract award.

C.2.11. When the CT cabinet is turned off the system will transmit “dummy” CT data to the host computer. The actual LS data as measured by the LS cabinet will be transmitted to the host computer along with the “dummy” CT data. The actual data string will be provided upon contract award.

C.2.12. When in automatic configuration, the CTI shall have an option to not require any human response to error messages. Both units will operate continuously without stopping to acknowledge routine (e.g., non-fatal/non-catastrophic) error messages. Only catastrophic errors shall halt either CTI’s operation while in an automatic configuration.

C.2.13. All system errors/messages will be logged to an error log file (*.txt format) and be displayed on the CTI’s monitor at the press of a function key. The screen log will display the count of each occurrence. Errors listed will include both Windows errors and CTI software application errors. Specific log entries will be identified upon contract award.

C.2.14. Percent area of trash shall be measured on a 9-square-inch area of the sample, within +/- 0.1 square inches. The length of the area measured shall not exceed 3.75 inches and the width of the area measured shall not be less than 2.4 inches. To eliminate fogging of the trashmeter lens, trash measurements shall be made by a filterless Digital camera/trashmeter. The measurement results will be reported as a percentage to the nearest one-tenth, except values greater than 5.0 will be reported as 5.0. CTIs in maintenance mode shall display and/or output the percent area of trash measurement to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent.

C.2.15. The trash particle count will be measured by the “cluster” method and reported to the nearest whole number. A cluster is defined as a group of trash pixels connected on the same or adjacent scan lines. A single piece of trash, regardless of its size, will have a cluster count of one. CTIs shall provide the option of either displaying or outputting this measurement, or both. The trashmeter shall have the ability within the software to detect incomplete window coverage. The detection parameters shall be adjustable.

C.2.16. The CT cabinet shall be designed in such a way that the sample presentation is conducive to both manual and automated sample delivery to the CT cabinet. The minimum vertical clearance space between digital imaging heads shall be 8 inches in height. The minimum horizontal clearance shall be 18 inches. This clearance will allow for presentation of samples to the imaging area without effecting the positioning/location of any sample in the process.

C.2.17. Each cabinet of the CTI shall be under control of its own computer system and be capable of independent operation and communication with the connected host computer.

C.2.18. The minimum CTI computer Standards f are listed below:

Processor: Intel i5-7500T, 2.7 GHz or faster Memory: 8 GB DRAM or more Storage: 256 GB or larger SSD, any compatible format I/O Ports: 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI, 6 x RS-232, 6 x USB, 2 x 100/1000 Ethernet port Monitor:

21.5'' diagonal, Active matrix TFT LCD (LED) Aspect Ratio 16:9 Resolution 1920 x 1080 @ 50, 60Hz Brightness (typical) LCD Panel: 250 nits, TouchPro PCAP: 225 nits Contrast Ratio 1000:1 Touch Technology & Capacity PCAP (TouchPro® Projected Capacitive) - 10 Touch If you feel you have an appropriate justification to not meet these standards, a waiver request must be submitted and approved by the C&T. C&T reserves the right to review and modify these standards during the length of this contract to keep up with current industry advancements.

C.2.18.1. CTI’s procured by USDA shall not require an activation code or any other device that would prohibit the operation of the CTI.

C.2.19. A Personal Computer, touchscreen monitor, keyboard, swing arm, and barcode scanner shall be provided on each cabinet.

C.2.19.1. A “waterless type”, dust and moisture proof keyboard shall be provided on each instrument/unit. Each key of the keyboard shall be the size of a standard typewriter key.

C.2.20. Vendor supplied application software shall not interfere with the Windows Operating System’s ability to perform normal windows operating functions/utility operations or impede operations of other windows applications that may be loaded or currently in use.

C.2.21. Upon delivery of the first CTI, the vendor shall provide the source code for all CTI computer programs digitally. USDA will handle all source code as confidential and proprietary property of supplier.

C.2.22. The vendor shall create various levels of user access to the CTI software variables and settings whose levels shall be defined as Operator, Line Supervisor, Technician, and Shift Supervisor.

C.2.23. The vendor supplied application software shall transmit a status file that shall adhere to a format distributed by the C&T. This format will be provided within 10 days of the contract award date. The CTI shall have the capability of printing the status file directly from the system computer into a user-friendly report.

C.2.24. The vendor software shall implement multiple levels in the utilization of initialization (ini) files. The hard coded CTI and motor constants (motor travel, motor delay times, motor speeds, etc.) shall be available only at the administrative level. The CTI dependent constants (trash setup constants, motor positions, calibration constants, etc.) shall be available at the technician and shift supervisor levels. Lot Limits, Offsets, Retest Bale ID Removal capability, Calibration Standard values shall be available at the line supervisor level.

C.2.25. The CTIs disk drives, USB Ports, CD-ROM drives shall be lockable to prevent unauthorized access. The operating software supplied by the Contractor at the time of delivery shall not exceed 50 percent of the computer’s processing and storage capability. Computer mountings shall be designed to facilitate ease of replacement of the CTI’s computer and other components. The computer’s case shall be designed to facilitate easy removal and replacement of internal component parts. Each cabinet shall contain surge protection only, (not UPS protection) to the CTI’s computer and monitor to protect the CTI from power fluctuations.

C.2.26. The CTIs shall be capable of calibration to the Universal Instruments Calibration Cottons for length, length uniformity, strength, USDA micronaire calibration orifices and chamber cotton, five (5) USDA calibration tiles for color (white, yellow, gray, brown and central), and the USDA trash calibration materials (920 tile, blank tile, threshold calibration tile).

C.2.27. The CTIs shall have demonstrated capability of testing a minimum of 825 classer samples per work shift, based on 7 hours and 20 minutes of actual operation. Cycle time for the LS cabinet shall not exceed 24 seconds for Upland cotton. Cycle time for the CT cabinet shall not exceed 12 seconds. Overall cycle time of the coupled CTI shall not exceed 24 seconds for Upland cotton. The CTIs shall be evaluated for production while interfaced to a NonStop server owned by C&T, with the number of complete records accepted by the server being the official record of each day’s production. Re-tested samples and/or other incomplete records will not be counted in determining the total daily production. Samples used for volume testing will be representative of the normal U.S. crop’s quality distribution. Each coupled CTI shall require not more than one operator.

C.2.28. CTIs SHALL NOT require more than one (1) operator and SHALL NOT have production rates of less than 825 classer samples per work shift or a coupled CTI cycle time of more than 24 seconds for Upland.

C.2.29. Motor Constants shall be adjustable up to the following speeds and accelerations:

C.2.30. CTIs shall include a bar code reader at the sample identification entry station to determine bale identification. The bar code tag may require orientation for reading. The scanner shall read Code-A-Bar, Code 39, or Code 128, subset B and subset C type bar codes based upon industry standard. Bar code type discrimination shall be done automatically and immediately by the scanner. The scanner shall recognize and read bar codes printed on different color paper, or plastic-coated cardstock, without any other actuation needed. The reader shall accurately accomplish its task in one pass of the card across the scanner, 99% of the time for properly printed and non-damaged cards. Neither pencil-type wand scanners nor slot-type bar code readers are acceptable.

C.2.30.1. Each cabinet (e.g., LS and CT) shall have capability for the integration of RFID equipment for use in providing bale identification information in addition to data from scanners discussed in C.2.30 above.

C.2.31. The CTIs shall allow for keyboard entry of bale identification data. If keyboard entry is necessary, two separate keyboard entries will be required for each sample, with the two keyboard entries compared by the CTI’s computer to ensure that they are identical. The first keyboard entry will not be displayed on the CTI’s screen display while the second keyboard entry is being made.

C.2.32. The CTIs operation main screen, (e.g., System Testing), shall display the mode (e.g., Form 1, futures, etc.), instrument number, Supervisor Number, Cotton Type and Operator number on the screen display at all times.

C.2.33. The CTIs shall interface with USDA’s server using RS-232 (DB9 pin female) and shall have capability for implementation of TCP/IP communication. CTIs shall allow the display of messages from the host computer on each CTI’s screen display. An output record shall be produced for each sample classed. All output records shall be in the formats specified by the government 60 days prior to the time of delivery.

C.2.34. CTIs shall be equipped with the necessary software to provide the capability to use external offset adjustments for each CTI’s measurement, except trash, so that all CTIs can be adjusted to the same test level. The software shall also have the capability to use external slope adjustments for trash, so that all CTIs can be adjusted to the same test level. Offset and slope adjustments will be configured in such a way that they will not apply to the calibration mode of the CTIs. The instrument shall be capable of maintaining different offsets for each operating mode (e.g., Form 1, 8x8, QA, etc.) and each type of cotton (Upland, Pima). The CTIs shall be equipped with the necessary software to provide the capability to calculate and apply automatic offset adjustments for micronaire, length, uniformity, strength Rd, and +b measurements based on the difference from a standard known value bale (e.g., In-house cotton). This is in addition to the manual external offset described above. The Auto-Offset shall have a “Zero Offset” Button to enable quick removal of all calculated offset data or individually selected quality factors. The Auto-Offset shall be selectable from the Configuration Menu and shall calculate and display the Auto-Offsets when a Function key is pressed. The actual Auto-Offset will always be calculated, but only be applied when the Configuration Automatic Offset Check Box is checked.

C.2.35. Software shall be provided with each instrument that allows C&T to set parameter limits (e.g., Lot Limits and Side Limits) for instrument measurements and allows re-testing of samples having readings outside set ranges.

C.2.36. A complete set of all accessory equipment shall be supplied for every five CTIs delivered. Accessories include any device, orifice, jig, special tool, etc. that is necessary to facilitate the proper setup, calibration, and adjustment of the CTIs for optimum performance. A minimum 32 Gb USB 3.0 /USB micro b with option USB C connector flash drive shall be provided for each set of five CTI’s. Colorimeter and trash tiles are excluded although color tile and trash tile holders are required for every instrument.

C.2.37. The device used to prepare specimens for length, strength and uniformity measurement shall be automated to the extent that fibers are locked in combs without operator intervention, other than the activation of a triggering device. Acceptable combs are those designs similar to the HVI1000 (2013 model) currently in use by USDA. Any other design must be submitted to USDA for approval.

C.2.38. Each module of the instrument shall have an independent power switch. All electrical power components, power strips, power supplies, etc., shall be designed and mounted to prevent disconnection under normal operating conditions. The use of tape, wire cable ties, or other temporary solutions, to secure connections is not acceptable. No interconnecting connections between or within cabinets will be routed on the floor. An external cabinet patch panel shall be used to connect all power, electrical, signal, communication, and pneumatic connections between the two cabinets. The connection panel will be mounted in such a way that no cable or lines between the two cabinets will touch the floor, but enough length of these cables and lines to allow the two cabinets to be moved a minimum of three feet without disconnecting anything. The only external connections (e.g., electrical, control, or air) to the instrument shall be those from the ground floor utility box directly to the cabinet. These facilities supplied connections to the cabinets(s) shall be connected to the same patch panel.

C.2.39. All components of the instrument shall be designed to reduce buildup of lint inside the instrument. The components shall be designed to provide easy access for lint removal by operators. The card cloth cleaning shall utilize a combination of compressed air, suction and/or mechanical (brushing) to minimize the need for manual cleaning.

C.2.40. Micronaire scales shall be designed to minimize fluctuations in specimen mass measurements caused by air turbulence to the maximum extent possible. The scale shall have a Tare warning message informing the operator to Tare (or zero) the scale as necessary.

C.2.41. Each instrument shall have a warning device to indicate reduced vacuum pressure because of clogged manifolds, open lint chamber doors, or any vacuum related reasons. Each instrument shall provide a measurement of the static pressure in the length/strength module that shall be displayed in the system testing mode. The vacuum motor shall be assembled in a modular configuration that shall provide a quick connect and disconnect assembly that shall be approved by C&T.

C.2.42. Each CTI’s heat output shall not exceed 4000 BTU per hour and each CTI’s compressed air requirement shall not exceed 5.0 CFM at a pressure not to exceed 100 pounds per square inch.

C.2.43. CTIs shall be designed so that all doors, lids, access panels, etc., which access dangerous moving machine parts must remain closed while the CTIs are in an operations mode. Cabinet lids shall contain a lid latch that latches when the door is closed and requires a universal type tool (ex. Allen wrench, screwdriver, etc.) for releasing the lid for opening. Heavy lids or panels shall have a hood prop rod or similar locking type device to prevent accidental closure. Each vendor shall use one universal tool on all their equipment. Lids over the sampling and measurement areas shall have a viewing window to observe operation. All cabinet doors should use a magnetic type latch when appropriate.

C.2.44. The instrument shall not exceed a noise level of 75 decibels that will be measured by the USDA at the operator position at a height not to exceed 5 feet from the floor and a 1-foot radius while standing at the operator position. It will also be measured at the adjacent operator workstations.

C.2.45. When a tile holder is inserted into the color/trash unit, the gap between the holder and the tray shall not exceed 1/16". The tile holding devises, when positioned at the measurement windows, shall not be off-center by more than 1/16th.

C.2.46. The instrument operational software shall be equipped with password protection for entrance to screens involving calibration values, operating limits, offsets, or procedural parameters. This password protection will allow only authorized personnel to enter these menus. Password protection is in addition to the operator and supervisor numbers/passwords mentioned in paragraph C.2.47 below.

C.2.47. Operator and supervisor numbers are required before entry is granted into System Testing mode. The operator number, supervisor number and instrument number shall be always displayed on the system testing screen. The CTIs shall have the option of entering either numbers or passwords for the entry of the operator and supervisor number. If passwords are used, each password will be linked to a number supplied by USDA. The password file shall be a separate file which contains only operator, supervisor, and technician numbers and passwords.

C.2.48. The blower/vacuum motor shall be a single unit that shall have the necessary specifications to meet or exceed the requirement of the L/S unit. This motor and all associated equipment (e.g., hose, cords) shall be housed within the confines of the L/S cabinet. Minimum specifications for the blower/motor for the transfer of cotton to the automic chamber shall be a minimum of 100 inches of water and 60 CFM.

C.2.49. The transportation of cotton from the sampler to the automic chamber shall be engineered (sealed) in such a way that all the cotton placed in the drum assembly makes it way to the chamber.

C.2.50 Automated Color/Trash cabinet

C.2.50.1 All paragraphs pertaining to the Color and Trash testing, measurements, and methodology as described in this SOW for the color/trash specifications shall be adhered to with the following additional requirements.

C.2.50.2 The sample shall be delivered to the Automated CT cabinet by a cotton automated conveyance system. An operator will remove the two halves of the sample from a container, place the two halves in their proper CT trays, and activate by pressing a button (The button will not activate until the PBI tag has been entered via the automation conveyor RFID or a manual scan) to start the imaging part of the cotton sample. The Automated CT cabinet shall transport the sample back into the indexed container (the same container from which the operator removed the sample) without the aid of a human. The Automated CT shall be in communication with the automation system ensuring the RFID of the container ready for the sample matches exactly with the PBI tag.

C.2.50.3 The Automated C/T Module shall be a closed cabinet construction with the overall physical dimensions of the frame shall not exceed 42” in width, 42” in depth, and tabletop height adjustable from 36” to 42”. The tray top height shall be 41”. These specifications will be verified by the vendor to ensure compatibility with the C&T’s automation conveyance system.

C.2.50.4 Automated C/T modules shall operate at a cycle time equal to or less than 12 seconds. One cycle equals acquisition of four (4) images (two per each half of the sample) of either the standard 9 square inch or the LAT image. The cycle time is measured from the start button to the ready signal. The cycle time shall be the completion of all processes.

C.2.50.5 This cabinet will be used in the decoupled mode only and will not have to interface with a Length/Strength cabinet.

C.3. ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION

C.3.1. The vendor shall supply, install, and update virus protection software for all module computers in this solicitation. Any periodic updates will be distributed by the vendor to all offices that operate these HVI’s. CTI's are not connect to the internet, so update/patches need to be sent to the C&T office where it can be downloaded to a storage device and plugged into each machine.

C.4. INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION

C.4.1. The CTIs shall be capable of being calibrated to the units shown below:

C.4.2. The CTIs shall be calibrated to Universal instruments calibration cottons, USDA micronaire calibration orifices, and USDA color and trash tiles within the tolerances listed below for the corresponding quality factor:

C.4.3. Fiber length: +/- 0.012 inch of the established value for the short and long calibration cotton (LengthTolerance), and +/- 0.0225 inch of the difference between the standard values for the short and long calibration cottons (LengthRangeTolerance). The following additional QMP calibration constants must also be meet: CombToleranceLength +/-.035; HistoryToleranceLength +/-0.015.

C.4.4. Length uniformity: +/- 0.8 units of the established value for the short and long calibration cottons (UniformityTolerance) and +/- 1.5 units of the difference between the standard values for the short and long calibration cottons (UniformityRangeTolerance). The following additional QMP calibration constants must also be meet: CombToleranceUniformity +/-.2.2; HistoryToleranceUniformity +/-1.0.

C.4.5. Fiber strength: +/- 1.0 gram per Tex of the established value for the strong and weak calibration cottons (StrengthTolerance), and +/- 2.25 grams per Tex of the difference between the standard values for the strong and weak calibration cottons (StrengthRangeTolerance). The following additional QMP calibration constants must also be meet: CombToleranceStrength +/-2.5; HistoryToleranceStrength +/-1.5.

C.4.6. Micronaire: CTIs must calibrate to within +/- 0.02 on both high and low USDA micronaire calibration orifices. After calibration, ten replications shall be made on the USDA micronaire chamber size calibration cotton. The average must be within +/- 0.02 of the established value on the chamber cotton and the bias shall be displayed on the monitor.

C.4.7. Color reflectance and color yellowness (Rd and +b): CTIs shall calibrate to within +/- 0.4 for Rd and within +/- 0.4 for +b of the USDA values on all five of the USDA tiles. After calibration is complete, the central tile must read within +/- 0.4 for Rd and within +/- 0.4 for +b of the USDA values on this tile. CTIs shall be able to calibrate the upper and lower color heads simultaneously reading both sides of one tile holder at the same time.

C.4.8. Trashmeter Setup (Calibration): The calibration process shall automatically iterate until the threshold calibration tile is being measured within +/- 0.02 of the established area value.

C.4.9. Trashmeter Calibration Check: The CTIs shall check calibration to within +/- 0.02 percent area and within +/- 1 particle count of the USDA values on the USDA calibration check tile. Check calibration results that are not within these tolerances will be highlighted on the calibration screen.

C.5. USDA PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AND METHODOLOGY FOR ACCEPTANCE TESTING OF CTI’S

C.5.3. The Contractor shall have at least one customer engineer on site during the entire evaluation process.

C.6. METHODOLOGY

C.6.1. Each instrument to be evaluated will be operated in a production environment. Universal and USDA Calibration Cotton Standards, colorimeter check sample boxes, cotton samples or photographic images mounted under 1/16-inch clear glass (Tempax), will be used. The CTIs being evaluated shall be calibrated to Universal instrument Calibration Cottons, USDA micronaire calibration orifices, USDA colorimeter tiles and checked to a USDA calibration check tile (trashmeter).

C.6.2. Samples will be conditioned for a minimum of 48 hours or will be subjected to rapid conditioning under the following conditions prior to testing:

C.6.3. A temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit +/- 1 degrees and 65 percent relative humidity +/- 2 percentage points. These conditions will be maintained during the testing process. All cottons tested shall have moisture contents of not less than 7.00 percent and not more than 8.00 percent, as determined by the USDA.

C.6.4. USDA reserves the right to suspend further evaluation of any instrument that fails 4 times on any of the performance tests until the contractor submits documentation (Instrument Evaluation Log) of mechanical, software and/or procedural changes made to correct the problem. Each instrument shall have an Instrument Evaluation Log provided by USDA.

C.6.5. Once an instrument has passed any of the evaluation criteria, no parts shall be removed from that instrument without USDA approval.

C.6.6. The 2x60 test must be passed before the 8x16 test can be run. Both the 2x60 and the 8x16 tests must be passed before volume testing can be started.

C.7. 2x60 Evaluation Cottons (2x60 Test) C.7.1. Two (2) 2x60 evaluation cottons having established values and standard deviations will be used for the 2x60 test. Each of the two (2) cottons will be tested 60 times. Standard deviations shall be calculated for each of the 60 tests for length, uniformity, strength, and micronaire.

C.8. Instrument Evaluation Cottons (8x16 Test) C.8.1. Eight (8) Instrument Evaluation Cottons having established values within the ranges listed below will be used:

C.8.2. Each of the eight (8) cottons will be tested 16 times on two consecutive tests. The instrument shall be calibrated before each test. Means and standard deviations will be calculated for each test. The Cotton and Tobacco Program shall provide vendors with HVI Evaluation Cottons at least 90 days prior to the delivery date of the CTIs. In the event of disagreement on the value of evaluation cottons, the Cotton and Tobacco Program Quality Assurance Division shall have final determination as to whether the established values are correct.

C.8.3. The Standard Values for each of the HVI Evaluation Cottons were established from tests performed under standard atmospheric conditions in C&T/USDA laboratories and by Cotton Incorporated, Raleigh, NC.

C.9. Universal and USDA Calibration Cotton Standards Samples C.9.1. Two consecutive tests, each consisting of eight 1-specimen micronaire tests will be made on each of the cottons listed below. The tests shall be conducted in “Module Testing” mode:

C.9.2. Using the data generated from the above tests, means and standard deviations will be calculated for each test. The instrument shall be calibrated before each test.

C.9.3. If the contractor changes the design or functionality of the automatic micronaire unit to something other than what in incorporated in the 2020-year model, an additional test with specimens ranging from 8 to 15 grams in individual weight groups that shall consist of 1-gram ranges will be conducted. For example, Group 1 = 9-10g; Group 2 = 10-11g. etc. Each group will consist of all six micronaire Universal cottons and run as described in C.9.1-2. USDA has the option to require all or a portion (not less than 20%) of the CTIs to pass this test.

C.10. Universal Colorimeter Check Sample Boxes.

C.10.1. Two consecutive tests, each consisting of eight 2-specimen colorimeter tests will be made on each sample of a 12-sample check box, supplied by the Cotton and Tobacco Program. Samples shall be rotated 90 degrees after each reading. Using the data generated, means and standard deviations will be calculated for each of the tests. The instrument shall be calibrated before each test.

C.11. USDA Trashmeter Cotton Samples and Photographic Images Mounted Under Glass.

C.11.1. Two consecutive tests, each consisting of eight 2-specimen trashmeter percent area of trash and particle count tests will be run on twelve cotton samples or photographic images mounted under glass, supplied by the Cotton and Tobacco Program. Materials shall be rotated 90 degrees after each reading. The USDA shall establish values for these materials. Using the data generated, means and standard deviations will be calculated for each test. The instrument shall be calibrated before each test.

C.12. ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE

C.12.1. Results of each required test during installation shall be within tolerances listed below:

C.12.1.1. Variability (2x60 Test).

C.12.1.1.1 The calculated standard deviations must not exceed established standard deviation limits. Standard deviation limits shall be based on the product of the established calibration cotton standard deviations and the f-test factor of 1.45.

C.12.1.2. Length, Length Uniformity, Strength & Micronaire (8x16 Test).

C.12.1.2.1 Fiber length shall not differ from the upper half mean length values established for the HVI evaluation cottons by more than +/- 0.015 inch for seven of the eight cottons. The overall average standard deviation for the eight HVI evaluation cottons shall be no greater than 0.012 inch.

C.12.1.2.2. Fiber length uniformity shall be within +/- 0.90 index units of the established length uniformity values for seven of the eight HVI evaluation cottons. The overall average standard deviation shall be no greater than 0.8 index unit for the eight cottons.

C.12.1.2.3. Fiber strength shall be within +/- 1.30 grams per tex of the established strength values for seven of the eight HVI evaluation cottons. The overall average standard deviation shall be no greater than 1.0 gram per tex for the eight cottons.

C.12.1.2.4. Average micronaire shall be within +/- 0.11 micronaire units of the established values for seven of the eight HVI evaluation cottons. The overall standard deviation shall be no greater than 0.07 micronaire units for the eight cottons.

C.12.1.3. Micronaire.

C.12.1.3.1 USDA Calibration Cotton Standards Phase. For each of two consecutive tests, the average observed micronaire reading shall be within +/- 0.10 micronaire units of the established values for each of the six standards. The overall standard deviation shall be no greater than 0.07 micronaire units for the six standards.

C.12.1.3.2. New Design Automatic micronaire units shall complete the tests as describe in C.9.3. The observed micronaire reading shall be within +/- 0.10 micronaire units of the established values for each of the six standards in each of the weight groups. The overall standard deviation shall be no greater than 0.07 micronaire units for weight group.

C.12.1.4. Color.

C.12.1.4.1. For each of the two consecutive tests, the average difference in color reflectance (Rd) between the observed values and established values of the 12-colorimeter calibration check box samples shall not exceed +/- 1.0 percentage points for each sample. The overall average standard deviation shall be no greater than 0.7 percentage point for the 12 samples.

C.12.1.4.2. For each of the two consecutive tests, the average difference in color yellowness (+b) between the observed values and established values of the 12-colorimeter calibration check box samples shall not exceed +/-0.5 units for each sample. The overall standard deviation shall be no greater than 0.3 units for the twelve samples.

C.12.1.5. Trashmeter Cotton Samples and Photographic Images Mounted Under Glass.

C.12.1.5.1. For each of the two consecutive tests, the average percent area of trash and particle count for each sample shall not exceed the following:

C.12.1.5.2. For each of two consecutive tests, the overall standard deviation for percent area of trash shall not exceed 0.04 for the twelve samples and the overall standard deviation for particle count shall not exceed 6 count for the twelve samples.

C.13. SPEED TEST

The USDA may randomly select and test 20% of the delivered CTIs on an automation system. The test will be performed with the CTIs in coupled or de-couple mode. The Speed Test may be suspended if no software or hardware changes that are different from 2021 version that could affects production are made.

C.13.1. Shall be conducted in Sample (system) testing either by one operator or fed from an automation system that may contain more than one loader.

C.13.2. Samples will be feed to the system without interruption for a period of two hours. All samples including retest will be included in the total.

C.13.3. To successfully pass this test, the average samples per hour must be equal to or more than 150.

C.14. OVERALL PERFORMANCE

C.14.1. Performance testing shall consist of performing the following procedure on two consecutive days (one time each day):

C.14.1.1. Micronaire - one side of the two halves of the samples representing the bale.

C.14.1.2. Length, strength, uniformity - a minimum of one specimen from each of the two halves of the sample representing the bale.

C.14.1.3. Color and Trash - a minimum of two specimens from each of the two halves of the sample representing the bale.

C.14.1.4. The CTIs shall turn out a minimum of 825 samples in 7 hours and 20 minutes of actual operation.