Increased Sustainability and Utilization of Cotton and Other Natural Fiber-Based Textiles and Commercial Goods

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service is procuring a Theta Flow Optical Tensiometer through the Cotton Fiber Biophysics Unit Research Unit in New Orleans to evaluate surface properties of newly developed water-repellent cotton products. This scientific instrument will support CRIS and collaborative projects as well as technology transfer initiatives related to increased sustainability and utilization of cotton and other natural fiber-based textiles and commercial goods. The tensiometer must meet detailed technical specifications including a CMOS 1" USB 3.0 digital camera with 5MP resolution, maximum measuring speed of 3,422 fps, integrated touch display, and OneAttension software with multiple measurement capabilities for contact angle analysis, surface tension measurement, and surface free energy calculations. Contractors must comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation provision 52.204-24 regarding telecommunications equipment restrictions under the National Defense Authorization Act Section 889, which prohibits the use of equipment from specified companies deemed national security risks. The solicitation has an extremely tight timeline with responses due September 26, 2025, just three days after the posting date of September 23, 2025.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and is classified under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and PSC code 6640 for Laboratory Equipment and Supplies. The included documentation shows that Nanoscience Instruments, Inc. has already completed the required NDAA 889 certification form, indicating they may be a potential vendor for this requirement. The tensiometer must be delivered to New Orleans, Louisiana 70124, where the CFBU Research Unit is located, and must operate within specific environmental conditions including ambient temperature of 15-30°C, pressure of 700-1060 hPa, and humidity of 20-80% non-condensing. The device specifications indicate it is a single unit weighing 29 kg with dimensions of 765 x 230 x 435 mm, requiring a dedicated computer system with Windows 10, minimum 2 GHz processor, and 2 GB RAM. The procurement appears to be for immediate delivery given the urgent timeline and specific research applications supporting cotton fiber sustainability initiatives.