Semi-automated pipettor

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.

Requirement:

 A semi-automated pipettor that can fill 96- and 384-well microplates.

 This equipment will be used to increase our throughput for accurately measuring phytonutrients and enzyme activity in potato. A key requirement is accuracy and precision when dealing with very small amounts of liquids, otherwise the pipettor will not meet our needs or be useable in our program. We require an accuracy of less than 2% error and a precision of less than 3% error at 1 ul, 5 ul. Similarly, the instrument must be able to dispense over the volume range we require (0.5-300 microliters) without the need to switch heads and in increments of 0.1 ul. Other desirable traits include being ergonomic with the ability to adjust speed settings for different liquids, multidispense, aspirate, reverse pipette and blow out.

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 03/03/2021 by 12:00pm PSTto the attention of Brian Fien at Brian.fien@usda.gov or 509-335-3349