Grain analyzer

A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) 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 limit competition to 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, or other small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition.

Requirements: Grain Analyzer

The USDA-ARS has a requirement for a grain analyzer meeting the below requirements.

High throughput evaluation of grain morphometric characteristics and detection of grain size, shape, color, and surface roughness, and user-defined frequency distributions thereof.

Requirements:

Must be able to collect sample data for sample sizes up to 25 grams

Must have simple sample workflow and samples must be processed in 1 minute or less

Must have high resolution color camera, at least 10 mega pixel

Must have CIE lab color accuracy: d_L=3, d_ab=5 30<L<90, -50<,a,b<50

Must be provide measurements with 25 micron accuracy

Application must calculate kernel width, length and area

Must be compatible with USB bar-code reader and scale

Must calculate kernel weight based on input data

Application must accept user input thresholds for classifying kernels

Instrument should have small foot print; no more than 24 inches in length or width and 24 inches in height

Must come with application software license

Must come with computer with Windows 10 or later operating system

Must come with 1 year warranty, technical support and training

NAICS Code: 334516 and the size standard is 1000

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. Companies should also indicate whether they are a Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), SDVOSB, or Women-Owned Small Business. Responses should be submitted by 02/17/2021 BY 12:00pm PSTto the attention of Brian Fien at Brian.fien@usda.gov or 509-335-3349