Agilent BioTek LogPhase 600 Microbiology Reader LP600-SN

This is a Sources Sought Announcement issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS) for informational and planning purposes only.  A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate contractors available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below. This is not a solicitation Announcement or Request for Proposal. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources.

Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition.

Project Description.  Spectrometer for high throughput microbial growth analyses. 

Agilent BioTek LogPhase 600 Microbiology Reader LP600-SN.  LogPhase 600 4-plate abs reader for measuring kinetic growth curves at 600 nm. Features shaking and incubation to 45 degC, and Incl. LogPhase App for reader control, data collection and analysis. Rep. BTI no. LP600.

- Must have four-microplate capacity to maximize microbial growth assay throughput.

- Must have temperature control to 45°C:

• Incubation must have variation of ± 0.5°C at 37°C
• Temperature control must have plate-to-plate uniformity of ± 0.5°C

- Must have proven robust orbital shaking specifically designed for continuous long-term shaking required for microbial growth assays.

- Must read with a wavelength commonly used for microbial growth assays:  600 nm, 560 nm, 580 nm, 620 nm or 640 nm.

- Must include an easy-to-use software to collect and provide key microbial growth data and calculated results, including lag time, maximum rate (OD/min) and time to stationary phase.

- Must be designed and manufactured in the USA.

The North American Industry Classification System code is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.  The size standards in number of employees is 1,000.

Companies who have the experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and would not hinder the mission objective of the ARS research location.

Responses should be submitted by 06/21/2024 not later than 3:00 p.m. CDTto the attention of Contract Specialist, Monte Jordan at monte.jordan@usda.gov.