Multi-material inkjet printer (UW-MAD) [20-0027]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, located in Dane County and the city of Madison, is seeking bids for a multi-material inkjet printer system for its Department of Mechanical Engineering. The procurement involves purchasing a single unit of specialized equipment designed for fabricating printed electronic devices, including thin-film transistors and printing biological reagents such as antibodies and DNA fragments. The printer must meet specific technical requirements, including piezo-driven jetting with droplet sizes between 1-10 picoliters, user-refillable cartridges with a maximum volume of 1.5 milliliters, and compatibility with water and solvent-based liquids. The printable substrate area must be at least 20 centimeters by 20 centimeters. Key bidder qualifications include three years of experience providing multi-material inkjet printer items or services, current manufacturer authorization, and three business references. The bid was issued on September 6, 2019, with written questions due by September 12, 2019, and final bids required by 2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time on September 19, 2019. Bidders must submit two hard copies to UW-Madison Purchasing Services or via fax or email.

The procurement includes supplier diversity preferences for certified Minority Business Enterprises, Woman-Owned Businesses, and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, with these vendors receiving preference if their qualified bids are not more than 5 percent higher than the lowest bid. The University reserves the right to require oral presentations, product demonstrations, and site visits before making an award. The contract requires the winning vendor to maintain on-site service capabilities with replacement parts available within five days, acknowledge service calls by noon the following workday, and complete repairs within two weeks. The manufacturer's standard warranty must be honored, with maintenance contract information required for years two through four after warranty expiration. Bidders must provide proof of insurance with minimum coverage of one million dollars for commercial general liability and automobile liability, with the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System listed as an additional insured. Payment terms are Net 30 days following acceptance and testing of the equipment, which must occur within 15 days of delivery. While no specific award value is mentioned, the procurement is for a single unit of a specialized scientific printer.