New Bale Press and Conveyor System with Scissor Lift-Tilt Table for the USDA, AMS, Cotton & Tobacco Program Memphis, TN Cotton Classing Office

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is acquiring a new full-eject bale press and automated conveyor system with an optional scissor lift-tilt table for its Cotton & Tobacco Program in Memphis, Tennessee, under solicitation 12639526Q0018. This contract is a total small business set-aside with a NAICS code of 333111 and a size standard of 1,250 employees, requiring all offerors to self-certify as small businesses. The contract is structured as a firm fixed-price agreement with a six-month performance period beginning in February 2026 and ending in August 2026, with delivery and installation required at the Memphis classing office located at 3275 Appling Rd, 38133. The system must handle up to 3,000 pounds of loose cotton per hour, produce bales weighing between 485 and 515 pounds, meet National Cotton Council standards, integrate with existing infrastructure, and comply with OSHA safety requirements for operator controls and railings. The contractor is responsible for removing the existing equipment, installing the new system, providing comprehensive training for personnel, and delivering a minimum one-year warranty on all components. Technical proposals must include a narrative, milestone chart, drawings, manuals, and detailed plans for execution and warranty service, while past performance must be rated acceptable or neutral to proceed. Award will be made on a highest technically rated basis, ensuring technical superiority over price, though pricing must be deemed fair and reasonable. Submission of the vendor quotation form and experience sheet is mandatory, with proposals due by May 4, 2026, via email. F.O.B. Destination terms apply, and compliance with relevant FAR and AGAR clauses covering small business utilization, subcontracting, ethics, and information safeguarding is required. No military packaging or marking standards are specified, but corrosion protection through powder-coating or industrial enamel is mandated on exposed metal surfaces, and control panel labeling must be clear and understandable. All equipment must be delivered to the specified Tennessee location, and final acceptance is contingent upon government verification of operational performance and resolution of any punch list items.