Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) are an official government contracting resource for small businesses. Find your local PTAC (opens in new window) for free government expertise related to contract opportunities.

USDA, AMS, has a requirement for purchase of 5 grain moisture meters.

We are seeking interested sources from small-businesses that are capable of providing a supply that meets the following specification:

• USDA/ AMS / FGIS requires that its official moisture instruments conform to National Type Evaluation Program requirements so they can be used for commercial as well as official grain inspection. The NTEP requirements are stated in the National Conference on Weights and Measures: Publication 14 Grain Moisture Meters & Near Infrared Grain Analyzers ©2023.


• USDA / AMS / FGIS calibration accuracy criteria, more restrictive than the NTEP requirements, mandates that the average difference between the results from a meter model and the USDA air oven method must not exceed +/- 0.15 percent moisture (for the most recent three years of data for the NTEP grains and for five years of data for the minor grains). The tolerance is increased slightly if the number of available samples is small. Tolerances for agreement between UGMA-Compatible meter models and AMS’s master UGMA system are defined in CRITERIA FOR UNIFIED GRAIN MOISTURE ALGORITHM (UGMA) AND OFFICIAL SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY (available on the AMS website).


• Must operate at temperatures between 36 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit


• Must be supplied with 110-120V, 50/60hz power input


• 7 inch touch screen display


• Memory storage for 3,000 measurements


• Three to seven USB ports for software upgrades, USB devices, printer, and peripherals


• Not to be greater than 20 inches high X 20 inches wide X 20 inches deep


• Not to weigh more than 30 pounds


• Moisture range to be detected 5% to 45% (depending on the grain)

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 333111 with a small business size standard of 1,250 employees for this procurement.

This is not a request for proposals, but instead market research to determine interested small business concerns prior to proceeding with the requirement. A determination by the Government on the method of competing this requirement has not been established. The Government will not award a contract based on this Sources Sought Notice or the information received, nor will it reimburse participants for the information they provide. If you are an interested small-business concern, please provide the following information: 1) Small business name and point of contact; 2) UEI; 3) Evidence of small business concern status; and 4) A brief Statement of Capability (no more than two pages) which demonstrates the ability to meet the specialized work requirements above. Electronic responses are preferred. Information provided will not be used as a part of any subsequent solicitation requirement. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses are due no later than 5 p.m., Central Standard Time, on June 23, 2023, to the attention of Caroline Russell, Contracting Officer, via e-mail to Caroline.Russell@usda.gov.