Attachment 2 - Statement of Requirements.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Specifications

Project Microwave Digestive System

General Information

1.0 Scope

The USDA-ARS facility in Riverside, California requires a Microwave Digestive System

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Minimum Specifications

• Capable of digesting 44 samples in one microwave digestion run using one rotor

• Include forty-four 100 mL high purity digestion vessels

• All 44 rotor positions must use full-size 100 mL vessels

• Required throughput shall not be achieved through smaller vessels, split batches, multiple runs, multiple rotors, or multiple instruments

• Operate as a true closed-vessel microwave digestion system during normal method execution and must not rely on continuous venting, passive venting, active bleeding, or routine pressure release as a normal part of digestion control.

• Digestion vessels must be designed specifically for high pressure closed vessel microwave acid digestion

• Provide direct temperature monitoring and control of all digestion vessels simultaneously without requiring insertion of physical probes

• Temperature monitoring must not rely on a single reference vessel

• Provide real time digestion temperature monitoring during the run and document actual digestion temperature behavior for the batch

• Vessels must have safety technology and pressure responsive safety mechanism to permit controlled release of excess vessel pressure and resealing after pressure relief

• Constructed from materials that are corrosion-resistant and suitable for repeated exposure to concentrated acids used in closed-vessel digestion

• Use a microwave power source capable of delivering ≥ 1.9 kW total power with uniform microwave distribution throughout the cavity

• Vessel pressure management design must be reusable under normal operating conditions and must not rely on destructive burst disks, rupture membranes, single-use pressure devices, or non-resealing relief mechanisms.

• Equipped with a dual magnetron microwave power system providing 1,900 W total installed microwave power.

• Include a microwave cavity with internal volume greater than 70 L.

• Include a pressure-responsive stainless-steel door safety design with integrated microwave interlocks.

• Must be a benchtop standalone unit with a dedicated touchscreen controller/terminal for system operation.

• Touchscreen terminal must not be structurally integrated into the microwave cavity, door, or primary instrument housing. The controller must be physically separated from the digestion cavity and acid vapor pathway to reduce corrosion exposure, improve long-term reliability, and minimize the risk of controller-related instrument failure.

• Software must allow creation, storage, editing, and execution of custom microwave digestion methods.

• Software must include programmable method stages for temperature ramps, hold times, microwave power control, and cooling steps.

• Provide run documentation including method name, run date/time, programmed temperature profile, actual temperature behavior, microwave power profile, run status, and error or alarm status where applicable.

• Include USB and Ethernet connectivity for method transfer, data export, backup, and connection to laboratory systems where applicable.

• Include an integrated corrosion-resistant exhaust connection and exhaust hose.

• Must not require an external chiller, external gas supply, or separate external computer for routine operation.

4.0 Government Furnished

Trade- In: The USDA-ARS is offering as a trade-in a Milestone Ethos EZ Microwave Digestion System.

Serial No: 131408. The trade-in will not be released until the new unit is delivered.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Key Deliverables Item Quantity Place of Delivery Delivery

Microwave Digestive System

1 Each

USDA ARS

450 W Big Springs Road

Riverside, CA 92507

60 days after award