Cotton Testing Instruments

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services (USDA AMS) intends to solicit proposals for a 10-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Cotton Testing Instruments (CTIs), also known as High Volume Instruments (HVI). The procurement falls under the Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing NAICS code 334516 and will be used for cotton testing purposes. The contract requires vendors to provide instruments with a full commercial 1-year warranty and comprehensive service maintenance. USDA AMS plans to post the full Request for Proposal (RFP) on SAM.gov by December 31, 2024, and will not accept any proposals submitted before the official solicitation. This pre-solicitation notice satisfies the federal acquisition regulation requirement at FAR Part 5.203(a).

The contract opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, which means only small businesses can compete for the award. While specific award values are not disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice, the 10-year IDIQ contract suggests a potentially significant procurement opportunity for qualified vendors in the laboratory equipment and supplies sector. The solicitation timeline indicates that interested small businesses have until January 31, 2025, to prepare their proposals after the full RFP is released. The lengthy contract duration of 10 years provides potential stability for the selected vendor, and the requirement for comprehensive warranty and maintenance suggests a focus on long-term instrument performance and reliability. Interested small businesses in the analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing space should closely monitor SAM.gov for the full RFP release.