A-2 Statement of Need GC MS Final.docx

Statement of Need / Required Specifications Gas Chromatograph (GC) / Mass Spectrometer (MS) System

Background

The Fire Research Division (FRD) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Engineering Laboratory (EL) provides measurements observed in fire and combustion experiments to enhance the standards and practice of U.S. firefighting services and other fire-related organizations.

The research conducted in the FRD requires instrumentation that is utilized in a variety of experiments that observe a wide range of analytes spanning from low concentration emerging contaminants of concern (i.e., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) to high concentrations of potentially harmful combustion products (i.e., carbon monoxide, oxygen, unburned hydrocarbons). Measuring various analytes in different applications is crucial to understanding the physics of fire and assessing the risk fire presents across multiple scales (e.g., full-scale room burns, benchtop experiments).

One of the tools available to characterize complex samples comprised of many analytes is the gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). This instrument enables the separation of complex mixtures. In addition, a mass spectrometer enables selective detection of targeted analytes as well as a qualitative screening of non-targeted or targeted species.

Currently, the FRD has a single functioning GC/MS instrument suitable for routine and exploratory sample analyses. However, the existing instrumentation is limited in its ability to efficiently process and analyze samples. Furthermore, the existing instrument hardware and analytical method are restricted to the analysis of manual injection of ambient liquids. The FRD therefore requires a new GC/MS instrument with all-in-one additional capabilities for research purposes.

Purpose The purpose of this acquisition is to procure one (1) new all-in-one Gas Chromatograph / Mass spectrometer system which meets the specifications identified in this document. This is a sole source requirement; only Wasson-ECE Instrumentation, Inc. is capable of meeting the need.

Description of Required Products The contractor shall provide one (1) new Gas Chromatograph / Mass Spectrometer system which meets the requirements identified below.

1. The system shall be of a bench-top design ≤2 feet 5 inches deep, ≤6 feet 6 inches wide and ≤ 4 feet 6 inches tall, not including a PC

2. The system shall weigh less than 450 pounds (lbs.)

3. Components and sub-systems that require power shall operate between 110V and 240V

4. The system shall include flame ionization detectors, mass spectrometry detectors, and thermal conductivity detectors (FID/MSD/TCD) capable of simultaneous operation

5. The system shall configure the TCD and FID in series such that samples injected into the system flow from the TCD into the FID enabling concurrent analyses

6. The TCD shall have the capability to operate at 400 ⁰C with a greater than or equal to data sampling rate at 200 Hz

7. The FID shall have the capability to operate at 450 ⁰C with a greater than or equal to data sampling rate of 500 Hz

8. The mass spectrometer shall have a gas chromatograph interface capable of electron ionization (EI), positive chemical ionization (PCI), and negative chemical ionization (NCI), and shall include the required components for these ionization sources

9. The system shall have a scan range of m/z 20 to 1000, with a scan rate of > 15000 amu/sec

10. The gas chromatograph oven shall be capable of maintaining temperatures between 20 °C to 450 °C. The gas chromatograph oven shall incorporate injectors capable of on-column, split, and splitless injection that can also track the temperature of the gas chromatograph oven.

11. The system shall be configured for gas sample, ambient liquid and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) headspace analysis, and thermal desorption tube analysis

12. The system shall include a switching valve that allows the operator to select different installed columns in the gas chromatograph oven

13. The system shall include an automated sample handling sub-system that is capable of ambient liquid and SPME headspace analysis

14. The system’s ambient liquid injection sub-system shall include a high capacity autosampler supporting ≥ 100 liquid samples contained in vials with capacity greater than or equal to 1.5 mL in a single unattended analysis sequence.

15. The ambient liquid sample introduction sub-system shall be capable of injecting 1.2 to 100 µL directly into a 0.25 mm (minimum internal diameter) capillary installed in an on-column injector or into a split/splitless injector.

16. The system’s ambient liquid sample introduction sub-system shall include a temperature-controlled accessory capable of maintaining samples between 5-30°C.

17. The system’s ambient liquid sample introduction sub-system shall include a wash sub-system that incorporates two individual vials with a 100 mL capacity.

18. The system’s autosampler shall include a SPME fiber sample introduction sub-system capable of extracting samples unattended at a temperature greater than or equal to 100 °C in greater than or equal to 10 mL vials in a single unattended measurement.

19. The system’s SPME fiber sample introduction sub-system must be capable of extracting ≥ 32 samples in a single unattended sequence. At least 5 SPME fiber types shall be included at the time of installation for SPME evaluation.

20. The system shall include an automated thermal desorption unit supporting ≥ 100 samples with cryogen-free radio frequency identification (RFID) sample tracking.

21. The system shall include a gas sample introduction sub-system capable of extracting gas samples into a heated sample loop and into an on-column injector or into a split/splitless injector. The heated sample loop shall have the capability of being maintained at a temperature greater than or equal to 150 °C. The sample line shall include an in-line pressure transducer to measure a maximum pressure of 30 psia. The sample line leading into the sample loop shall have the capability of being maintained a temperature greater than or equal to 150 ⁰C.

22. The system shall include a computer, monitor, instrument control and operation software to perform simultaneous control and data acquisition of the FID and TCD as well as full-scan and selected ion monitoring acquisitions.

a. The computer used for instrument control and data acquisition shall be new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) equipment, with a Microsoft Windows 10 operating system or better and at least two network interface cards (or more than two if the GC/MS modules communicate via IP addresses). The computer system and monitor shall not consist of any refurbished materials.

b. The computer system shall include an i7 processor or faster, at least 8 GB RAM, six or more USB ports, and a 1 TB SSD, or greater. The computer system shall also consist of two (2) 24-inch monitors with a minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080 dpi.

c. Data reporting (e.g., integrated peak areas and mass spectra) features shall be capable of export to Microsoft Excel for subsequent processing.

d. The computer shall include software capable of control and communication with all components of the GC/MS system, executing all data acquisition, and performing quantitative and qualitive analysis

23. The contractor shall provide at least one (1) electronic copy in Adobe PDF format of the operations and maintenance manual for the system. The manual shall cover proper operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting for the instrument and controlling software. The manual shall be provided to the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC).

Warranty Requirements

The Contractor shall warranty the system for one-year. All hardware, software, and consumables for normal operation of the system and software shall be covered. During the one-year warranty period, the Contractor shall provide telephone support during normal business hours, and on-site service and replacement of any defective equipment or software. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor, and travel necessary.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Contractor personnel visiting the NIST campus shall follow NIST Visitor and Contractor Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses as identified at this link: https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses

Contractor personnel shall also conform to the current NIST health checklist and travel advisory requirements located at https://www.nist.gov/media/583331 (updated weekly).

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to be familiar with these sites and any updates made to them during the course of the requirement. If Contractor personnel are unable to meet all requirements for campus access identified at the link, services will need to be rescheduled and shall be rescheduled at the Contractor’s expense.

Delivery Requirements

Delivery of the hardware and software shall be made F.O.B Destination. Delivery shall be made within twelve (12) weeks after contractor receipt of order. Delivery shall be made to the NIST Shipping and Receiving Department after which it will be directed to its final installation location at the FRD. Both addresses are listed below. Delivery trucks shall enter NIST via the “C” Gate along Quince Orchard Road between 6:00 AM and 3:30 PM Eastern Time daily. No deliveries are allowed after 4:30 PM ET.

NIST Shipping and Receiving 100 Bureau Drive Building 301 Gaithersburg, MD 20899

NIST Fire Research Division 100 Bureau Drive Building 224 Gaithersburg, MD 20899

The Contractor shall confirm delivery plans in writing with the NIST Technical Point of Contact prior to any shipment to NIST. Failure to confirm NIST ability to receive products shall release the Government of any liability.

Installation & Training Requirements

The Contractor shall install the system on-site at the NIST Fire Research Division in Building 224 on a mutually agreed upon date within thirty (30) calendar days after delivery. Installation shall take place between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

The Contractor shall provide training on equipment use at the NIST Fire Research Division in Building 224 on a mutually agreed upon date within thirty (30) calendar days after installation. Training may also occur immediately following installation if mutually agreed upon. Training shall be provided for up to five (5) NIST personnel and shall cover normal operation, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance. Training shall take place between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Inspection & Acceptance

Inspection and Acceptance will take place in three phases as detailed below. The place of inspection and acceptance for each phase shall be 100 Bureau Drive, Building 224, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. The Contractor has the right, at its expense, to be present during the inspections.

1) Delivery

NIST will inspect delivered software and hardware products to ensure that they conform to the requirements identified in this Statement of Need.

2) Installation

NIST will inspect installation in the NIST environment that the system is to be operated in. Inspection will ensure conformance to the requirements identified in this Statement of Need. Please be reminded that, as included in the required product specifications, at least 5 SPME fiber types shall be provided by the Contractor at the time of installation for SPME evaluation.

3) Training

NIST will inspect training to ensure conformance with the requirements identified in this Statement of Need.

Payment Payment will be made on a NET30 basis after Government inspection and acceptance and receipt of a proper invoice. Payments will be made in accordance with a negotiated firm fixed price payment schedule which aligns with the three inspection and acceptance phases detailed above.