Optical sorter

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking to procure a Buhler Inc. SORTEX J - Spectra Vision Vertical Optical Sorter for the Mexican Fruit Fly Rearing Facility in Edinburg, Texas. The optical sorter is critical for supporting the facility's new Black Pupae Strain (BPS-10) fruit fly production, specifically designed to automatically separate male and female flies prior to emergence and release. The solicitation requires a precise optical sorting machine with specific dimensions of 41.8" W x 92.4" D x 75.6" H, utilizing single-phase 200-240V electrical requirements. Quotes are due by May 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM Central Time, with the contracting officer Jim Roloff serving as the primary point of contact. The procurement is categorized under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

The contract is not designated as a small business set-aside, despite the original solicitation notice indicating such. The place of performance is the Moore Air Base Facility in Edinburg, Texas, with a specific delivery and installation deadline of June 6, 2025. The contractor will be responsible for installation through building 6418's northeast end, making necessary utility connections, and providing comprehensive operational training. Strict security requirements will be in place, including valid vendor identification and proper vehicle documentation. The optical sorter is needed to process millions of male flies daily, supporting the Sterile Insect Technique used to suppress and eradicate wild fruit fly populations in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties in Texas, as well as along the Texas-Mexican border. The facility's unique breeding program aims to produce sterile male flies that will mate with wild flies, preventing the reproduction of viable offspring.