The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has issued Solicitation #12805B25Q0082 for an Optical Seed Sorter, exclusively set aside for small businesses. The procurement falls under NAICS Code 333111, with a business size standard of 1,250 employees. Interested vendors must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to the solicitation closing. Quotes must be submitted electronically to a specific USDA email by a designated deadline, including detailed pricing and supporting documentation that verifies compliance with specifications. The award process will evaluate submissions based on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable method and require acceptable past performance. The contract period for delivery is set at 30 days following receipt of the order, with inspection and acceptance at a specified Fargo, North Dakota location. Compliance with various federal acquisition regulations and clauses is mandatory, ensuring adherence to legal and ethical standards, including provisions related to environmental considerations, equal opportunity, and small business participation. Overall, this solicitation exemplifies the government's emphasis on fostering small business participation in federal procurement processes while maintaining rigorous compliance and evaluation criteria.

The USDA ARS ETSARC is seeking proposals for an optical seed sorter to enhance research on agronomic traits affecting seed characteristics such as size, color, and weight. The required equipment is a 32-channel optical seed sorter with advanced features, including dual high-resolution RGB cameras, an imaging processor for sorting by various criteria, and a user-friendly touchscreen interface. Specific requirements include the ability to sort seeds ranging from camelina to sunflower size, and an installation and training service to occur on-site within 30 days of delivery. The USDA will provide essential support equipment, such as an air compressor, and a warranty for one year covering labor and parts. Delivery will take place at the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where a forklift is available for unloading. The overarching goal is to improve the capabilities of research related to seed traits, demonstrating the federal commitment to advancing agricultural science and technology.