Attachment_1_-_Revised_Specifications_0001.docx

Attachment 1 – Revised Specifications Minimum Specifications/Requirements

A. Introduction:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mercury Research Laboratory (MRL) at Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Madison, WI has a requirement to purchase one (1) new multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) to ensure highest quality data can be provided to ongoing contractual and research projects and to expand analytical capabilities to meet the needs of future investigative studies.

B. Background:

The USGS Mercury Research Lab is a complete and full-service operation in the laboratory and out in the field.

The USGS Mercury Research Lab is a complete and full-service operation. We specialize in methyl and total mercury concentration and isotope analyses. We perform natural abundance stable mercury isotope measurements on a variety of natural and experimental samples. The laboratory is also expanding into the measurement of lithium and other stable isotope systems. Other services include select ancillary variables, in-lab filtration, and sample lyophilization & homogenization.

C. Minimum Specifications for a multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS):

1. Must include at least four individual, software-controlled mass flow controllers for regulation of argon gas flows (cool, auxiliary, nebulizer (sample gas), and additional supplemental gas) to the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to support the use of a hydride generator/cold vapor generator introduction systems.

a. The instrument must allow for the direct coupling with manual and automated gas chromatography systems and produce average peak ratio or peak apex ratio data without additional file conversion or export processes.

2. Instrument must have an argon inductively coupled plasma ion source with a radio frequency (RF) generator with an adjustable RF power between 400 and 1800 W.

3. Instrument skimmer valve must default to closed when the plasma is turned off or in the event of a power failure.

4. Interface is compatible with high sensitivity sample and skimmer cones that enhance signal sensitivity up to 2x or greater for heavier elements.

5. Sample and skimmer cones are universally compatible with multiple types of sample introduction including spray chamber (wet plasma), desolvating nebulizers (dry plasma), and hydride generators with desolvating nebulizers (dry plasma).

6. Instrument must have double focusing ion optics with forward Nier Johnson geometry with 2x magnification.

7. The instrument must have a water-cooled chiller option for the magnet sector to ensure optimal thermal stability due to infrastructure requirements.

8. Thermal load of instrument and chiller(s) must be less than 7 kW due to existing laboratory infrastructure requirements.

9. Faraday cup array must be able to cover isotope systems from lithium to plutonium and the operating mass range of the instrument (m/z) must be at least 4 – 300.

10. Instrument must have at least 11 Faraday cups. This configuration should be capable of simultaneously measuring isotope ratios for masses between 198-205 (i.e., 198-Hg, 199-Hg, 200-Hg, 201-Hg, 202-Hg, 203-Tl, 204-Hg, and 205-Tl) within a single analysis.

11. Instrument must include at minimum 11 standard 1011 ohm amplifiers with a 100 V dynamic range and allow for installation of 1013 ohm amplifiers.

12. Amplifier housing must be fully evacuated and temperature controlled.

13. The instrument must include a power conditioner appropriately rated for the instrument.

14. Must include a desolvating nebulizer and autosampler systems.

15. The software that controls the instrument should shall include the following:

a. Ability to individually control argon gas flows (e.g. cool, auxiliary, sample gas, and additional supplemental gas) to the ICP and frontend components via software-controlled mass flow controllers.

b. Ability to control skimmer valve via software controllers

c. Ability to monitor real-time vacuum pressures in the interface, electrostatic analyzer (ESA) and analyzer regions of the instrument

d. Ability to initialize and monitor the baking system through the instrument software

e. Ability to assign amplifiers to specific collectors without hardware adjustment

f. Ability to perform automated gain calibrations with amplifier specific calibration currents.

g. Ability to control mass resolution switching.

h. Ability to control peripherals such as autosamplers or other sample introduction systems.

i. Ability to perform ratio calculations and corrections within the software

j. Ability to simultaneously run the instrument software and other processing software to calculate delta values (i.e., excel or python scripts) in real-time to assess instrument accuracy and precision, without data transfers to a secondary computer.

16. The instrument must have the capability for future upgrade or conversion to an MS/MS option made up of a collision/reaction cell with a pre-cell mass filter to accommodate expanding analytical capabilities within the laboratory D. Requirements – Warranty, Shipping, Delivery, Installation, Calibration, Testing, and Training:

D.1 Warranty

A minimum one-year standard manufacturer’s warranty for instrument that covers all hardware and software. Documents providing details of the manufacturer’s warranty shall be provided. The warranty period shall begin at the time of final acceptance of the instrument, once it has been demonstrated to meet all specifications provided herein.

D.2 Shipping:

The instrument and all components provided hereunder shall include all shipping costs and shall be FOB Destination.

D.3 Delivery:

The instrument and all components provided hereunder shall be delivered FOB Destination within one hundred and eighty days (180) days after receipt of the contract.

D.4 Installation, Calibration, and Testing:

Installation, calibration, and testing of all equipment, including on-site verification of all factory-determined standard analytical specifications conducted by a factory-trained and certified engineer. A copy of the factory tests of the instrument shall be provided for comparison with the on-site results.

Installation, calibration, and testing of the instrument and all components provided hereunder shall be completed within ninety (90) days of delivery.

D.5 Training:

On-site training by a factory trained and certified engineer shall be completed within 30 days of installation, calibration, and testing of the instrument.