This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items identified below, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation: offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation number: RFQ4203, is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This procurement shall be solicited under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and is Small-BusinessSet-Aside.(NOTE: Nonmanufacturers' Rule requires that the contractor under a set-aside contract be a small business who must provide either its own product or the product of a domestic small business manufacturer within the United States). The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) code is 334310. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Corn Insects Crop Genetics has a requirement to purchase a Video Tracking, Motion Analysis and Behavior Recognition System. Please quote one(1) each of the following: (1) Movement Tracking System (Noldus EthoVision Color-Pro 3.0 System or EQUAL) which includes software with reference manual, infra red remote control unit, cables and connectors, video digitizer, tutorial CD, on-site installation and training, one year free technical support; (2) Monochrome CCD camera with 3.5-8mm/F1.4 vaifocal lens; (3) Computer with monitor and all needed software and hardware installed, configured and test (Dell Pentium4, 3.06GHz, 512 MB or EQUAL); (4) Digital Time-Lapse VTR, high quality; (5) Video monitor, 14" Trinitron, color, high resolution, dual input; (6) Mpeg encoder/recorder; (7) Infrared light illuminator, wide-angle IR light emitter (Note:2 each of this item). The items you are offering must meet or exceed the following must have salient characteristics: (a) A versatile system that can be used for tracking movement in a variety sizes of insects and a wide range of insect life stages including European corn borer larvae and adults, Monarch butterfly larvae and adults and corn root worm larvae and adults in various sizes and shapes of experimental arenas; (b) Ability to track insects in up to 16 individual Petri plate (experimental unit) arenas simultaneously. System needs to have the ability to expand the simultaneous recording capacity with additional cameras; (c) Ability to collect movement tracks of insects from videotape (analog video), direct digital video camera (live tracking), or stored digital video files; (d) Software must have ability to identify up to 20 areas within arenas to be used to quantify time spent in an area for measurement of time feeding on a particular food source or counting frequency of visits to specific areas. Ability to combine similar areas for analysis or change area identification for analysis of previously identified areas in the arenas. Ability to continue recording when insect movement is obscured from view in hidden areas such as under leaves and still attribute the time in hiding as time in that area; (e) Software must have capability of displaying and redrawing locomotion data tracks at various speeds, taking distance and time measurements, and analyzing insect movements (time at location, speed, turning tendency, avoidance behavior) and behavior recognition (feeding, resting, molting); (f) Capability of collecting video movement tracking data unattended for up to 4 days; (g) Ability to track insect movement during simulated day or night with changing light levels using red or infra red illumination through polystyrene Petri plates, acrylic, glass, condensation, or various mesh screening; (h) Ability to calibrate measurements of movement in terms of actual distances (m, cm, mm, in, ft). Depending on the scale and angle of the image this may require the use of differing scales in the X and Y image coordinate; (i) Ability to re-analyze stored track data with different parameters for analysis; (j) Ability to detect insects using a variety of image detection techniques such as connecting pixels with similar values to be identified as the insect, measuring differences between pixels and a reference image of the areana, or by using colors different from the background; (k) Ability to enhance and filter video images to maximize contract or brightness for best detection of insect movement especially through glass, clear plastic, screen mesh cage and condensation that may impair the image of the arenas; (l) Ability for software to control an experiment to automate with a response after a condition has been met. This solicitation incorporates the following FAR clauses, provisions and addendums: 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal; 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Item; 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. In Paragraph (B) of 52.212-5, the following apply: 52.203-6, 52.223-9, 52.225-1, 52.225-13 and, 52.232-33. All offerors must include copies of 52.212-3 (Representations and Certifications). Faxed quotations are acceptable to Denise Hill at fax number
+1 (555) 000-0000 on or before June 22, 2003, Central Standard Time. Please quote prices valid for 90 days. All responses will be evaluated in order to determine the ability to meet the above stated capabilities. The Government shall award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsive/responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government per FAR 13.106-2. Responses shall include technical specifications, descriptive material, literature, brochures and other such information corresponding to each minimum required item, which demonstrates the capabilities of the offeror's equipment. Offerors shall identify where the offered item meets or does not meet each of the Government's functional and performance minimum specifications listed herein. Offeror shall include references of three (3) firms for which similar equipment was provided. The anticipated award date is August 1, 2003. All responsible sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the Agency.
