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USDA APHIS PPQ has an upcoming requirement for 6000 ft of double coated nitrile on cotton. The Government intends to issue a RFQ for a FFP purchase order to procure black nitrile double surfaced material with cotton center. The requirement will be a small business set aside with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees under NAICS code 325212. The solicitation with complete details will be posted on or about 11/23/2022.

Background:

Mexican Fruit Fly Rearing Facility (MFFRF) located at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, TX is seeking to purchase 6,000 ft (30in wide) Black Nitrile Double surfaced with Cotton centered. The expected life of the material, once installed in a colony cage, is approximately 6-8 months. In addition, this material can be easily sanitized by traditional means and does not provide an environment for nematode and microscopic worms to thrive which the absence of these entities is critical for the mass production of good quality eggs and flies. This material can be stored safely in our warehouse and maneuvered without special machinery or harm to employees as they move it. The acquisition of this specific material is very important and critical for the functionality and continuity of operations for our program and facility. This material is used on two sides of each of our fifty (50) colony cages that hold fertile male and female Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens, where mating occurs. After insemination, the fertile females deposit fertile egg masses using her ovipositor that penetrates the material and deposits eggs that are harvested seven days per week. The material mimics the skin of a citrus fruit in thickness, flexibility, and texture to the mass reared flies. The harvested eggs are incubated for four days and then prepared for infestation on artificial diet. This specific material has been successfully used for years and has proven of the perfect thickness, flexibility, and texture that the females accept and will readily deposit egg masses.