RFQ-224-AQU

Discharge Velocity Flow Meters

Request for Quote

March 25, 2015

Response Due: Monday, April 6, 2015

Key Dates

The following are key dates related to this RFQ.

Item / Date
RFQ Issued / 3/25/15
Offerors’ Questions Due / 3/30/15, 5PM, MST
Answers to Questions sent / 3/31/15
Offerors’ Responses Due / 4/6/15, 5PM, MST

1  Profile

The National Ecological Observatory Network, Inc. is an independent 501(c)3 corporation created to manage large-scale ecological observing systems and experiments on behalf of the scientific community. NEON is a specific NSF-funded large facility project managed by National Ecological Observatory Network, Inc.

NEON’s mission is to design, implement, and operate continental‐scale research infrastructure, including the National Ecological Observatory Network, to open new horizons in ecological science and education, and to enable ecological analyses and forecasts for the benefit of society. NEON has 20 domains and over 100 sites throughout the United States. More about NEON can be found on the web at www.neoninc.org

2  RFQ Purpose

NEON has a need for Discharge Velocity Flow Meters that have high accuracy, and are portable and lightweight in order to conduct wading surveys at sites ranging from Alaska to Puerto Rico. The meters must be able to operate in shallow water that has vegetation and sediment in it.

This RFQ is being released electronically only, and this version is the only official version for this solicitation. No hard copy of this RFQ will be issued.

This RFQ is being released to selected known suppliers and on the website for the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System.

Offerors shall submit responses to this RFQ by email to the following Contract Administrator prior to the closing time and date of this solicitation.

Jon Etra

Sr. Buyer

Phone: 720.746.4873

3  Questions

Upon review of the RFQ, Offerors are invited to submit questions. All questions regarding technical or business matters must be submitted in writing to the Contracts Administrator. Direct contact with NEON technical representatives during the proposal period could be cause for elimination from consideration for this contract. Responses to all questions will be in the form of an amendment sent to known selected suppliers and posted on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System. NEON will not respond to verbal or telephone questions.

4  Offerors Quotes

Offerors shall submit responses on or before the due date and time for this solicitation. Submissions must include:

a)  Completion of Exhibit A for each model proposed, with exceptions to specifications noted

b)  Specification sheets, model numbers

c)  Lead times for loaned equipment (section 8.1) and for first quantity requested

d)  Quotes and expiration date of quotes (including prices for accessories) in a separate document

e)  Pricing for years 2015, 2016, and 2017 if available, and quantity discount tiers if offered.

The due date and time for quotes is: 5PM MST, Monday, April 6, 2015.

If you are unable to meet the deadlines for this proposal, you will be eliminated from consideration for this contract. You will not be eliminated from future business.

5  Quantities and Desired Delivery Schedule

There could be as many as 20 Velocity Meters purchased through 2017. The current known requirement is five for 2015.

6  Specifications- Exhibit A

This Exhibit has two sections for requirements (Requirements, Conditions and Requirements). These sections must be completed for all models offered. In addition the section for Nice-to-Have, should be completed for other models that exceed the basic requirements (robotic models for example).

7  Evaluation

NEON intends to evaluate quotes without discussions. Therefore, the Offeror’s quote should contain the best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, NEON reserves the right to conduct discussions if later determined to be necessary. NEON may reject any or all quotes if deemed necessary; accept an offer other than the lowest priced quote; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotes received. NEON intends to award to the responsible Offeror whose quote conforming to this RFQ offers the best value to NEON, price and other factors considered.

The primary factors to be evaluated are a) meeting the requirements, b) price, c) warranty and ease of servicing. However, offers of robotic stations will be considered after a trial to determine if the extra expected cost will reduce procedure time sufficiently to justify that cost.

8  Award Plans

8.1  Offerors may be requested to loan equipment for a one week field evaluation.

8.2  The selected supplier will be notified as soon as possible following evaluation of RFQ.

8.3  All procurements made as a result of this RFQ shall be subject to the NEON Purchase Order Terms and Conditions shown at: http://www.neoninc.org/sites/default/files/basic-page-files/NEON_Terms_Conditions-January-2014.pdf

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