66 -- PHYSICAL ADSORPTION ANALYZER

Notice Date

July 11, 2001

Contracting Office

NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

ZIP Code

94035-1000

Solicitation Number

RFQ2-38019-MXS

Response Due

July 26, 2001

Point of Contact

Marianne Shelley, Purchasing Agent, Phone (650) 604-4179, Fax (650) 604-4357, Email mshelley@mail.arc.nasa.gov -- Ronnee R. Gonzalez, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-4386, Fax (650) 604-4357, Email rgonzalez@mail.arc.nasa.gov

E-Mail Address

Marianne Shelley (mshelley@mail.arc.nasa.gov)

Description

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). NASA Ames Research Center plans to purchase a High Performance Physical Adsorption Analyzer for use in the Thermal Protection Materials and Systems Branch. It will be used to characterize the surface area and porosimetry of current and developmental thermal protection materials. The system specifications must have the following minimum requirements: A. The Physical Adsorption Analyzer standard and/or upgrade options must include the following: (1) Measure surface area in the range of at least 0.05 m2/g to 3000 m2/g. (2) Measure pore size in the range of at least 3 -- 300 nm. (3) Conduct measurements using the following gases: N2, O2, Ar, CO2, CO, Butane, Kr, and other non-corrosive gases. (4) The pressure measurement system must have at least the following capabilities: (a) System must use a single set of transducers to measure all analysis functions. (b) A range of at least 0 -- 950 mmHg. (c) A resolution of at least 0.001 mmHg. (d) Real time pressure reading display during analysis run. (5) System must have separate vacuum systems for the outgas (prep/degas) manifold and a second independent vacuum system for the analysis manifold. (6) The analysis vacuum system must attain an ultimate vacuum of at least 5x10-3 mmHg. (7) The degas vacuum system must attain an ultimate vacuum of at least 5x10-3 mmHg. (8) The system must have at least 2 degas ports. (9) The system must have at least 1 sample port. (10) The system must have at least 1 saturation pressure tube. (11) The cryogenic system must allow up to 40 hours of unattended analysis. (12) System must employ cold traps on both the degas and analysis manifolds. (13) Instrument must be equipped with a passive (no electrical feedback or mechanical level control) cryogenic level control about the sample. (14) System sample tubes must use self-sealing valves. (15) For measuring micropore distributions the system must allow the gas to be dosed in user defined increments from 0.1 to 10 cubic centimeters per gram. (16) System must allow many analysis parameters to be changed while a sample characterization is being performed, for instance allowing changes to be made while an isotherm is building. (17) Instrument must be capable of performing an analysis without using Helium. (18) The analysis software included with the system must be able to produce at least the following types of reports: (a) Single-point and multipoint BET surface area. (b) Langmuir surface area. (c) Full adsorption and desorption isotherms. (d) BJH adsorption and desorption (Halsey thickness equation and Harins and Jura thickness equation). (e) Total pore volume. (f) Mesopore and Macropore volume and area distributions by pore size. (g) Density Functional Theory. (h) MP-Method. (i) t-Plot. (19) System must be upgradeable to allow surface area measurements down to 0.01 m2/g or less. (20) System must be upgradeable to allow pore diameters to be measured in the range of 0.35 to 3 nanometers. (21) System must be upgradeable to include the capability to measure the rate at which various gases adsorb to the surface of porous materials. B. The availability of the following options will be considered in the evaluation of the technical acceptability of a High Performance Analyzer for Surface Area and Porosimetry measurements. (1) Upgrade chemisorption option to allow characterization of catalytic materials including active metal surface area and percent metal dispersion. (2) Upgrade option to allow use of unsaturated hydrocarbons and other solvents and gases that may be corrosive. (3) Upgrade option to allow adsorption studies using water as the adsorptive. (4) Option must be available to permit easy transfer of samples from degas port to analysis port under vacuum. (5) Option must be available to initiate sample analysis with the sample maintained under vacuum. (6) Optional capability to allow repetitive isotherm cycling (up to 500 adsorption/desorption cycles over user defined ranges along the adsorption isotherm). (7) Option to control up to four analyzers using a single computer. C. Other miscellaneous specifications: (1) A unit with a depth of less than 24 inches would allow greater flexibility within the lab to determine where the unit can be placed. (e.g. some of the existing lab benches are 24" in depth or less.) (2) Onsite training and installation must be supplied by the vendor. (3) Vendor must provide an adequate supply of extra operating supplies, such as o-rings, gaskets, isothermal jackets, sample tubes, etc. (4) System must be capable of being operated from an Ames supplied computer, in other words the vendor must identify minimum computer requirements that Ames will then fulfill. (5) System must come complete with appropriate gas regulators. The provisions and clauses in the RFQ are those in effect through FAC 97-27. This procurement is a total small business set-aside. See Note 1. The NAICS Code and the small business size standard for this procurement are 334513 and 500, respectively. The quoter shall state in their quotation their size status for this procurement. All qualified responsible business sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Delivery to ARC is required within 30 days ARO. Delivery shall be FOB Destination. The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. Quotations for the items(s) described above are due by 12:30 P.M. July 26, 2001 and may be mailed or faxed to NASA Ames Research Center, Acquisition Branch for Aeronautics, M/S 227-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, Attn: Marianne Shelley, Fax: 650-604-4357; and include, solicitation number, FOB destination to this Center, proposed delivery schedule, discount/payment terms, warranty duration (if applicable), taxpayer identification number (TIN), identification of any special commercial terms, and be signed by an authorized company representative. Quoters are encouraged to use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items form found at URL: http://procure.arc.nasa.gov/Acq/Forms/Index.html to submit a quotation. Quoters shall provide the information required by FAR 52.212-1. If the end product(s) quoted is other than domestic end product(s) as defined in the clause entitled "Buy American Act -- Supplies," the quoter shall so state and shall list the country of origin. The Representations and Certifications required by FAR 52.2l2-3 may be obtained via the internet at URL: http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/msfc/pub/reps_certs/sats/ FAR 52.212-4 is applicable. FAR 52.212-5 is applicable and the following identified clauses are incorporated by reference: 52.222-3, 52.233-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.225-3, 52.225-13, 52.232-33. The FAR may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.arnet.gov/far/ The NFS may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/nfstoc.htm Questions regarding this acquisition must be submitted in writing no later than July 18, 2001. Selection and award will be in accordance with FAR 52.212-2 with the following evaluation factors: 1. Technical Acceptability; 2. Delivery; 3. Past Performance; 4. Cost. Technical acceptability will be determined by information submitted by the quoter providing a description in sufficient detail to show that the product quoted meets the Government's requirement. These requirements include: 1. Ease of use, maintenance, and support; and, 2. Quoters must provide two (2) references of previous orders for the item quoted. Quoters must provide copies of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representation and Certifications -- Commercial Items with their quote. See above for where to obtain copies of the form via the Internet. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". Prospective quoters shall notify this office of their intent to submit a quotation. It is the quoter's responsibility to monitor the following Internet site for the release of amendments (if any): http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=C&pin=21 Potential quoters will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this combination synopsis/solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010713/66SOL014.HTM (D-192 SN50R598)