Water Activity Meter

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service is seeking quotations for an Aqualab 4TE water activity meter with chilled-mirror dew point sensor through Request for Quotation 1232SA26Q0326. The solicitation, issued as a combined synopsis and simplified acquisition for commercial items, requires the meter to provide food-safe water activity measurements with a sample range of 15-50°C, 0.003 aw accuracy, and include a calibrated cleaning kit and warranty. The government will make one firm fixed-price award based on lowest price technically acceptable criteria, meaning the lowest priced quoter will be selected unless it fails to meet acceptable technical or past performance standards. Contractors must submit quotations with pricing for all items by March 27, 2026, and questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted to Brian.Fien@usda.gov no later than March 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Time. Quoters must maintain price firmness for 90 calendar days from the receipt date and demonstrate technical acceptability by meeting or exceeding all salient characteristics with supporting documentation.

This is an unrestricted acquisition with no small business set-aside, and the current incumbent is Meter Group, which supplies the Aqualab 4TE units through its location at 201 N Pine Street, Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070. The estimated procurement value is approximately $42,225.00, with the solicitation calling for delivery of all items within 60 days after award to 600 E Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, under F.O.B. Destination terms. The specifications identify three Aqualab 4TE water activity meters along with three AQUALAB Qualification Kits, each containing verification standards at five water activity levels. Contractors must register in the System for Award Management and comply with applicable federal clauses including Buy American requirements, anti-discrimination laws, and child labor certifications. The North American Industry Classification Standard Code is 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1000 employees.