Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Notice of Intent: The USDA, ARS, WBSC intends to award a sole source procurement to Unity Scientific, 113 Cedar St, Suite S3, Milford, MA 01757, as they are the sole source for this type of dough analysis instrument pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(l ) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The award will be for a Chopin Technologies AlveoLab dough measuring instrument. The instrument must be able to measure dough tenacity, extensibility, elasticity and baking strength; must have automated positioning and inflation of dough test pieces using an inverted bubble; must be able to measure water absorption (WA), tenacity (P), extensibility (L), elasticity (I.e.), baking strength (W); must be internally cooled; must weigh less than 100Kg; must fit into a 1m³ space; must be a standalone system; must be capable of 20 samples over 8 hours with one operator; must evaluate the behavior of the dough during mixing; must have internal controls for temperature and humidity; must add water automatically from a temperature-regulated water tank; must regulate temperature while mixing; must be able to perform standardized analysis per AACC 54-30, ICC 121, NF EN-ISO 27971, and GOST 51415-99; must have automated and fully controlled test conditions (temperature and hygrometry); must come with software and all accessories; and must come with on-site training and installation.

The Government intends to award a firm fixed price Purchase Order on or about September 18, 2018, using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:30PM central time, September 17, 2018. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via mail to the Contracting Officer at the following address:

Contracting Office Address:

USDA-ARS-WBSC
1001 Holleman Dr. East
College Station, TX 77840

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