Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

The FDA Mycotoxin analysis program requires that a large range of materials be processed to as homogeneous a state as possible prior to chemical analysis for harmful chemicals. These materials include... The FDA Mycotoxin analysis program requires that a large range of materials be processed to as homogeneous a state as possible prior to chemical analysis for harmful chemicals. These materials include nuts in the shell, dried fruit, coffee, processed foods, cotton seeds, animal feeds, and peanut butter. To achieve this, rugged, high-throughput equipment is necessary. The need for sample homogeneity has become particularly critical as FDA is moving to the analysis of substantially smaller sample sizes. (To represent a shipment weighing several pounds or tons, we are moving from analyzing 25-50 grams to analyzing one gram of material.) The requested equipment is also specified, by name, in the sample preparation standard operating procedure (SOP) for harmonization of the mycotoxin analyses performed at all the FDA analyses. The Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) typically receives food samples which weigh between four and fifty pounds and which vary in consistency from very hard to very soft. Additionally, the requested equipment is necessary to replace a similar, rugged grinder which is substantially over twenty years old, has received substantial use on an almost daily basis, and is showing definite signs that it is at the end of its useful life. The Government intends to issue a firm fixed-price purchase order as result of this solicitation. Please see the attached RFQ for complete requirement details and quotation submission instructions.