Statement of Work Unisense.doc

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: Effects of brood-cell hypoxia on larval bees

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: The UDSA-ARS intends to purchase two new Oxygen Microrespirator Systems to measure the oxygen consumption by larval bees as well as their symbiotic microbe. ARS researchers have demonstrated that such microbes within pollen-provisions are critical to larval development, but the microbes appear to compete with bee larvae for oxygen. It is now critical to examine this oxygen-sharing dynamic to better manage bees by more wisely managing their microbial symbionts. Specifications for the purchase are itemized below.

2.0 Background: The USDA-ARS uses this microrespirator system to collect invaluable data on pollen provision oxygen production/consumption. Solitary bees collect pollen from neighboring plants and form them into a pollen-provision; this provision will be the substrate the mother bee uses to lay her egg. Each provision is inoculated with microbes, placed in a reed (a cylindrical nesting tube), and separated with a mud wall to seal the chamber. Each read can have up to 8 sealed chambers within it. The data collected from this microrespiration system will allow us to measure the oxygen fluctuations in a pollen provision of solitary bees, which will give us a better understanding of the functionality of the microbial community within the provisions. Having two new microrespiration instrumentation systems will allow us to expand the number of independent replicates we can measure within a given experiment, providing the statistical basis for defensible findings.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

The oxygen produced by microbial communities is very small even relative to small organisms (like insects); in order to accurately measure the oxygen fluctuations of such a small microbial community, we need a small container with a small amount of air exchange and headspace in order to detect the increases or decreases in oxygen production. Required 4 mL MR chambers specially designed to fit a single pollen provision inside the vial with a sufficient amount of headspace. The pollen provision will then be sealed inside the chamber with agar and the sensor will be inserted inside the sealed vial to measure the oxygen fluctuations inside. Software required to collect all the fluctuations within the MR chamber. From that, we can use any statistical software to generate oxygen consumption curves.

Must be able to collect oxygen data from 4 chambers at the same time. The 4-channel amplifier will allow us to maximize our output and measure different treatments at the same time. The amplifier also must include a specific channel for a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is very important for the software to accommodate how temperature changes affect oxygen concentrations.

Brand name or equal:

Unisense Oxygen Microrespirator Equipment must include:

· Oxygen Microsensor

· Optical sensor

· Must be able to measure oxygen in gaseous state

· Must have an outside tip diameter of 430µm

· Measurement range: 0-100% O2(0-45 mg/L), optimal 0-50% O2(0-23 mg/L)

· Detection limit: 0.02% ( 0.01 mg/L)

· Easy handling to prevent damaging sensor (needs aluminum sensor guides with adjustable plastic tips and retractable design to avoid damage)

· Low detection limits

· Fast response (<3sec response time)

· Insignificant consumption of analyte

· 4 Channel Amplifier

· Must be compatible with the oxygen sensor, temperature sensor, and software

· Must have 4 channels with an additional slot(s) for temperature probe

· Adjustable sampling intervals from 1 sec. to 60 sec

· Accurate temperature compensation

· Temperature sensor

· Must be compatible with amplifier

· Precise temperature measurements to the 0.1°C decimal place

· SensorTrace Logger - freeware

· Must provide software data outputs as excel or CSV files

· Windows compatible

· Compatible with amplifier

· 4mL Respiration chamber

· Chamber diameter of 15mm

· Chamber height of 45mm without lid (55mm with lid)

· Easily sterilizable (Autoclavable)

· Needs port of entry to fit oxygen sensor

· Effective seal to keep out ambient air or water

· 400mL Respiration Chamber

· Chamber diameter of 60mm

· Chamber height of 210mm without lid (245mm with lid)

· Easily sterilizable (Autoclavable)

· Needs port of entry to fit oxygen sensor

· Effective seal to keep out ambient air or water

· Oxygen sensor zero-oxygen calibration kit

· No requirement for technical support or training

4.0 Government Furnished: NA 5.0 Deliverables / Schedule: Delivery by Sept 30th, 2021 6.0 Travel: NA 7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel: Not identified 8.0 Security Requirements: Vendor is not required for installation 9.0 Data Rights: Not applicable

9.0 Possible Vendors:

1. Unisense A/S

Contact Person:

Andrew L. Cerskus Sales Manager

Ph: (905)7191200 email: alc@unisense.com

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards: Not applicable Technical criteria for review of proposals to include:

1. Type of sensor and amplifier

2. Size of instrument (sensor and respiration chambers)

3. Chamber type

4. Available software capability 5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

· The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or credit card surcharges. Payment will be made by federal purchase card (VISA) or via direct deposit upon receipt of signed purchase order (PO), and invoice and signed lease agreement.

· Delivery is expected to the Russell Lab (1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706) by 9/30/2021 or as negotiated. Quotes must be in writing, and should be on company letterhead or have authorized signature. Bid will be awarded on the basis of cost to USDA-ARS. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. All vendors conducting business in this dollar volume with the USDA-ARS will need to provide a DUNS number and register in CCR (Central Contractors Registration Database; www.ccr.gov). Payment can’t be made until this information is provided. Please submit a written quote (preferably by fax) by close of business (5:00 pm) on _______________ to:

Aaron Dimeo, Purchasing Agent; US Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: 608-890-0067; email: aaron.dimeo@ars.usda.gov; fax: 608-890-0048