Insect Sterilization Equipment

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) is seeking sources to manufacture an x-ray insect irradiation system to sterilize insects. Companies interested in competing for this requirement must submit a statement of capabilities detailing their ability to meet the below requirements (i.e., demonstrate ability to manufacture x-ray sterilization equipment). This statement shall be emailed to: contact@example.gov Responses to the announcement will be used to determine acquisition strategy (e.g., small business set-aside, full and open competition). This announcement does not commit the Government to award of a contract. Responses must be received within 10 days of publication of this notice. Request for Procurement of an X-Ray Insect Irradiator and Tube Chilling System for USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST, Moss Landing, California The APHIS-PPQ-CPHST methods development unit in Moss Landing, California requires an X-ray irradiator designed for the production of large volumes of sterile insects for the purpose of evaluation and methods development of the sterile insect technique for the light brown apple moth and other program pests. The required features include: - X?ray source with variable kV and mA. - Programmable Logic Operating system allowing flexible exposure times and dose rates. - Minimum dose rate of 14 Grays (Gy) per minute or better delivered to canisters containing 3.8 liters of adult insect or pupae with a density of 1 g/ml. - Dose uniformity of 1.3 or less with an even dose distribution over the target area of the irradiation canister with less than 7% variation between high and low dose rates. - Total system of capacity of 20 liters of insects that can be irradiated at 300 Gy in 20 minutes. - Capacity to withstand operating temperatures down to 36 degrees F and 75% Rh or provision of a chamber cooling capacity to 36 degrees F +/- 1 degree. - Capacity to withstand corrosive effects of moth scales and dust with particle size down to 4.0 microns. - Electrical junctions and connections meeting NEMA 4 watertight standards. - Shielding and safety interlocks that conform to 21CFR1020.40 and other applicable Federal and State of California worker protection standards. - X-Ray system capable of daily continuous operation of 8-16 hrs/day. - X-Ray tube capable of three years of operation before replacement. - Maintenance assistance and warranty that covers labor and parts and provides replacement X-ray tube and power supply with no more than loss of one day of operation time. - Annual preventative maintenance. - Tube cooling system that integrates with PLC and mechanical operation. - Documentation of dose rate test results and dose uniformity including a dose distribution map for the specific machine and irradiation canister. - Twenty durable and reusable irradiation canisters made of carbon fiber material or other light-weight radio resistant material. Canisters shall be sized to allow a dose uniformity number of 1.3 or lower while maximizing moth capacity. - Technical assistance provided for set up, machine start up, and training.