US Env. Protection Agency, CMD-RTP MD-33 (NCCM-H), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

66 -- TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETER SOL D600462M1 POC Lenora Hilliard, 919-541-4392/Janice F. White, 919-541-4392. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a requirement for a Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERICIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; PROPOSALS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED (with the exception of the listing of an approved third party Agency approval by the North Carolina Building Code Council which will be telefaxed upon request). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 37. The solicitation number is D600462M1 and it is being issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). The contractor shall provide a time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer and data analysis system. The following minimum specifications are as follows: (1) the system must be capable of acquiring, processing, and storing mass spectra continuously at a rate of at least 500 spectra per second; (2) ability to produce a mass resolution of 1 atomic mass unit (amu), or better, over a scanning range of -1 1000 m/z; (3) The components of the ion launch and the detection electronics shall allow spectral acquisition rates of 1000 spectra per second, or faster; (4) ability to sum or average as few as two spectra launches and acquisitions in order to produce a scan rate of 500 scans per second (or Hertz (Hz)); (5) The operator shall be able to select the number of spectra acquisition events to be averaged together, and the system shall be capable of providing scan rates that span the range of at least 10 scans per seconds (100 milliseconds per scan) to 500 scans per second (2 milliseconds per scan) - the selection of such scan rate will depend on the researcher's need or time resolution and signal-to-noise ration; (6) The data analysis hardware and software shall be capable of resolving (deconvoluting) spectra of individual species from a complex chromatogram, including effective and accurate techniques for subtraction of the background; (7) The system shall also include software, hardware, and computer systems, as needed, to set-up, control, and trouble-shoot the system; to report the observed mass spectral information, together with single-ion or total-ion chromatograms; to search library spectra and report ''matches'' with the observed spectral data; and to produce a quantitative chromatographic report. (This quantitative chromatographic report shall include, as a minimum, the retention time, the total ion (and/or specific single ion) count, the name of the chemical based on a library search of mass spectra, a measure of the quality of the mass spectral identification, and the concentration of the chemical, based on the actual or estimated calibration data.); (8) Data acquisition, data processing, and data storage shall be adequate to meet the scan rate requirements and to store spectra from a one hour-long run; (9) system must be capable of operating, collecting, and producing identifiable and interpretable spectra at input flow rates of up to 5 ml of nitrogen per minute in order to handle the interfaces that are envisioned for the research efforts; (10) the system shall operate at an ion launch and detection rate of at least 1000 scans per second (this is required because the system will be used with fast chromatographic systems that will produce peaks as narrow as 10 milliseconds in bandwidth; (11) the internal launch rate of individual ion groups and the electronic data acquisition components must be capable of producing at least 1000 scans per second; (12) The system shall be capable of a storage rate of at least 500 scans per second, however, a range of spectra storage rates, selectable by the operator, covering at least the range of 10 scans per second to 500 scans per second shall be available; (13) the vacuum system for the time-of-flight mass spectrometer shall be capable of accepting, operating, and collecting resolved mass spectral data with a continuous input of carrier gas typical of that used in fast gas chromatographic systems; (14) the system must be capable of accomodating an input of at lease 5 milliliters per minute of nitrogen carrier gas, while maintaining ion source pressure at an appropriate operating level. (Note: the volume of 5 ml is at 1 atmosphere pressure and a temperature of 25 degrees C.); (15) the system must be capable of measuring with a signal-to-noise ratio of 7 or better, typical hydrocarbnon pollutants in abmient air (e.g., benzene, toluene hydrocarbon, the xylenes, n-hexane, n-octane) in ambient air at gas chromatographic (v/v) of 250 parts per trillion in a typical fast gas chromatographic run(e.g,. 1-3 minutes total run time, with peak widths of 0.1-0.5 second; (16) ability to measure carbon tetrachloride with a signal-to-noise of 7 or better in ambient air at its geochemical background concentration of approximately 125 ppt (v/v); (17) system must be capable of distinguishing among coeluting compounds since no chromatograph is capable of resolving all of the analytes in a typical ambient air sample; (18) system shall provide an effective, demonstrable deconvolution algorithm as past of its data processing software and the algorith must me capable of resolving, identifying, and quantifying the concentrations of individual compounds, including volatile organic compounds identified as hazardous air pollutants in 42 U.S. Code 7112 (Section 112 of the Clean Air Act as amended) and other species of interest; (19) system must have a mass scanning range of 1 to 1000 mass units (m/z); (19) The mass spectrometer, excluding computer equipment and other peripheral equipment (e.g., roughing pump, or a dedicated printer or monitor) shall weight no more than 400 pounds, and shall have a ''footprint'' no larger than 3 feet by 4 feet; (20) The mass spectrometer shall not require more than 20 ampere service at 120 volts AC (60 Hz or 225 V ac (60 Hz); (21) The mass spectrometer must be capable of operating across the range of 50 degrees to 90 degrees fahrenheit, with relative humidities of 20% to 80%; (22) The equipment must be underwriters laboratory approved, or it shall be listed and labeled by a third party Agency approved by the North Carolina Building Code Council. The contractor shall deliver the instrument to the Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C. The contractor shall install the equipment and demonstrate that it meets the required specifications. Additionally, the contractor shall conduct training for up to five (5) operators. The Contractor shall offer to the Government at least the same warranty terms, including offers of extended warranties, offered to the general public in customary commercial practice. Brochures or manufacturers specifications must be included with your bid/offer. Deliver is required within six (6) months after contract award. Contractor shall notify the Project Officer at least 2 weeks prior to shipping the mass spectrometer. Shipment shall be FOB Destinatioin to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Shipping and Receiving, Page Road and 1-40, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1., Evaluation -Instructions to Offerors-Commerical; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commericial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (1) technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirements; (ii) past performance; (iii) price, in decreasing order of importance. Technical and past past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price. All offerors are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.212-3. Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commericial Items. The following FAR clause applies to this acquisisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commericial Items. The following additional FAR clauses, which are cited in clauses 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I; 52.203-10., Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity; 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Hanficapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.225-3, Buy American Act-Supplies; 52.225-18. European Community Sanctions for End Products; 52.225-21, Buy American Act- North American Free Trade Implementation Act-Balance of Payment Program, Clause EP 239-103, Acquisition of Microcomputers Imcluding Personal Computers, Monitors, and Printers (Energy Star Requirements) is also applicable to this requirement. Offerors must submit all technical questions concerning this solicitation in writing to the Contract Specialist. All bid/offerors should be submitted to Lenora Hilliard, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg. Lobby, Attn: Lenora Hilliard, 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by July 17, 1996, 4:30 p.m. EST. Offers/bids received after the exact time specified will not be considered. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored (0184)

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