Multi-material inkjet printer (UW-MAD) [20-3165]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Mechanical Engineering is conducting a Simplified Request for Bid (sRFB) to procure a single multi-material inkjet printer for fabricating printed electronic devices and biological reagent printing. The printer must have specific technical specifications, including piezo-driven jetting with droplet sizes between 1-10 picoliters, user-refillable cartridges up to 1.5 milliliters, and compatibility with water and solvent-based liquids. Required capabilities include a printable substrate area of at least 20x20 centimeters, adjustable substrate plate temperature up to 60 degrees Celsius, a fiducial camera for multilayer printing alignment, and CAD-to-printer conversion software. The solicitation was posted on August 16, 2019, with written questions originally due by August 20, 2019, and sealed bids due by 2:00 p.m. CDT on August 23, 2019 (later amended to August 29, 2019). The University will evaluate bids based on the lowest extended net total bid that is deemed to be in the best interest of the institution, with the potential for oral presentations, product demonstrations, and vendor site visits at the University's discretion.

Qualified bidders must be original manufacturers, authorized distributors, or dealers with service and repair capabilities and three years of experience providing multi-material inkjet printers or related services. The University provides preference for certified minority business enterprises, women-owned businesses, and disabled veteran-owned businesses when bids are within 5 percent of the lowest qualified bid. Bidders must submit unit pricing for the printer and optional annual maintenance costs for years two through four following warranty expiration. Payment terms are set at Net 30 days following acceptance and testing, with acceptance testing to occur within 15 days of delivery. The contractor must maintain the manufacturer's standard warranty and provide maintenance within 72 hours of a service call during normal business hours, with replacement parts available within five days. While no specific budget range is disclosed, the procurement includes standard terms and conditions, applicable federal regulations, and requires debarment certifications and compliance with prevailing wage and equal opportunity requirements.