Micro-Oxymax Respirometer Expansion & Upgrading

This contract issued under solicitation number 1232SA26Q0540 by the USDA Agricultural Research Service is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under FAR 19.5, targeting HUBZone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and is classified under NAICS code 334516 for specialized instrument manufacturing. The procurement seeks the expansion and upgrading of a single Micro-Oxymax Respirometer 20 Chamber System with Accessories, manufactured exclusively by Columbus Instruments, to enhance respirometry capabilities at the Industrial Pilot Plant in Albany, California. The system must be fully compatible with existing Columbus Instruments hardware and produce comparable measurements to ensure standardization across research platforms used by BRU, HPFR, and other users. The acquisition follows a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation approach, meaning only the lowest-priced proposal that meets mandatory technical specifications and holds an acceptable or neutral past performance rating will be considered. Submission of any alternative or “equal” product is strictly prohibited unless accompanied by exhaustive documentation detailing salient characteristics, brand name, model, descriptive literature, and proposed modifications — even then, such submissions remain non-compliant unless explicitly approved. The contract period runs from May 12, 2026, to August 14, 2026, with delivery required by August 14, 2026, at FOB Destination to PWA Bioproducts Research in Albany, California. Payment will be processed electronically via EFT under FAR 52.232-33 and FAR 52.232-34, with accelerated payments mandated for small business subcontractors. The contracting officer is Lynn Hults, and all proposals must be submitted by May 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. The contract imposes stringent regulatory and quality controls aligned with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FSMA, and the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, requiring all equipment and components to meet FDA standards for safe food contact and packaging materials to comply with CONEG limits on heavy metals. Labeling of shipments must include comprehensive FDA-compliant information such as company name, establishment number, ingredient lists, allergen statements, nutrition panels, traceability codes, and UPC symbols in machine-readable format, with all markings required to be water-fast, non-smearing, and in high-contrast text. Packaging must be palletized