USDA, ARS, North Atlantic Area; Contracting Office; 600 East Mermaid Lane; Philadelphia, PA 19118

66 -- RIBOPRINTER (TM) MICROBIAL CHARACTERIZATION SYSTEM DUE 082595 POC Regina M. Herchak, Contracting Officer, (215) 233-6551. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, intends to negotiate solely with DuPont Central Research and Development of Wilmington, DE, for a RiboPrinter (TM) microbial characterization system to be furnished and delivered FOB destination to the Poultry Food Safety Research Station in Princess Anne, MD. This equipment includes instrument and software control systems, heat treatment station, and appropriate computer system and operating software. This equipment will be used for rapid traceback and identification of foodborne pathogens on raw and processed products through DNA fingerprinting of isolates. Companies with the demonstrated capability to provide and service such equipment must submit a written substantive statement outlining the company's and system's capabilities, including all pertinent descriptive literature, to the Contracting Officer within 15 days of this notice. This is not a request for proposals; no solicitation is available. (0221)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0455 19950810\66-0010.SOL)