Carbon Coater - High Volume

The US Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants is seeking to procure one High Volume Carbon Coater, specifically a Safematic CCU-010 or equivalent, for scientific sample preparation applications. This firm, fixed-price acquisition will be evaluated using the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable method, requiring vendors to submit new equipment only with manufacturer warranties and complete documentation including SF 18 forms, technical specifications, and delivery timelines. The solicitation mandates that no grey market or refurbished products will be accepted, and contractors must provide comprehensive technical support including online assistance and initial system maintenance training. Responses to this Request for Quotation must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer by August 27, 2025, at 1200 PDT. The procurement falls under PSC 6640 for Laboratory Equipment and Supplies and NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.

This solicitation does not utilize any set-aside designations and is open to all eligible contractors, though the provisions and clauses document indicates support for various small business programs including service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, and HUBZone small businesses. No current incumbents or award values are specified in the available documentation. The equipment must be delivered within 60 days after order receipt to the USGS Volcano Science Center located in Moffett Field, California. The carbon coater must meet specific technical requirements including a compact countertop footprint of 24 x 48 inches, a dry scroll vacuum pump achieving 5 x 10-5 torr in under 10 minutes, and an automated carbon thread re-threading system with thickness monitoring capabilities accurate to 0.5 nanometers. The unit must accommodate rotating stages for up to four 25 mm epoxy mounts or three petrographic thin sections, with potential for future modular upgrades.