1232SA26Q0817 - Amendment 0001 Microcalorimeter USDA-ARS-SEA Starkville MS

This solicitation, number 1232SA26Q0817, is a combined synopsis and Request for Quotation issued under FAR Part 12 for the procurement of one automated multichannel isothermal microcalorimeter to support microbial-level research on biofilms, infection models, antimicrobial efficacy, and novel control methods. The acquisition is exclusively set aside for small business concerns, with the NAICS code 334516 and a size standard of 1,000 employees, making it a Total Small Business Set-Aside. All responsible small businesses may submit quotations, and the solicitation explicitly incorporates FAR clauses related to the Buy American Act, requiring compliance with both the supply restriction in 52.225-1 and the certification requirement in 52.225-2. The contract requires delivery of the equipment by October 22, 2026, at the USDA-ARS-SEA Poultry Research Unit in Starkville, Mississippi, under F.O.B. Destination terms, meaning the contractor assumes all transportation risks and costs until delivery at the destination. The evaluation methodology follows a Highest Technically Rated approach, with technical merit being the primary factor for award, followed by fair and reasonable price and acceptable past performance; tradeoffs are not permitted, and price is not a determining factor unless it falls outside reasonableness thresholds. Offerors must submit completed SF-1449 forms along with four attachments: Terms and Conditions, Specifications, Contractor Request for Information, and a Past Performance Questionnaire, and they must represent their small business status and eligibility under applicable socioeconomic programs, including WOSB, EDWOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, or SDB, through the required FAR representations. Special contract requirements prohibit the contractor from using government data to train AI models, restrict data processing outside the U.S., forbid unilateral supplier terms that limit government rights, and mandate transparency in any algorithms used during performance. Invoicing must be sent to the Beltsville, Maryland address specified, and payment will be made via electronic funds transfer. The Government retains full authority for inspection and acceptance at the delivery point, and compliance with all regulatory, security, and anti-discrimination provisions—including those addressing worker rights, trafficking, diversity, equity, and inclusion—is mandatory. No contract value is specified in the solicitation as pricing details have not been filled in by offerors.