I.B.a. SOW with updates 20230628.docx

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

TRANSPORTATION SECURITY LABORATORY

STATEMENT OF WORK FOR THE TRACE LABORATORY

DESICCATOR CABINETS

TSL-23-063

1. BACKGROUND

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is tasked with researching and organizing the scientific, engineering, and technological resources of the United States and leveraging these existing resources into technological tools to help protect the homeland. The Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) supports this effort through providing scientists and engineers with knowledge, experience, and expertise in all areas of contraband detection with an emphasis on explosives. The core mission of the TSL is to enhance homeland security by performing research, development, and validation of solutions to detect and mitigate the threat of explosive devices and contraband materials. To efficiently execute this core mission, a myriad of highly specialized scientific equipment is required to develop, produce, and validate the contraband standards and testing methodologies.

At the TSL, trace test articles are prepared by depositing solutions containing trace amounts of explosives onto polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) strips. The explosive on the PTFE strips is then transferred to either vendor media or substrates to create test articles that are then introduced to explosive trace detection (ETD) equipment. Ensuring that the PTFE strips containing deposits of explosives are kept at constant humidity is crucial as some analytes are hygroscopic and can undergo water uptake. If the deposit does absorb water, many critical factors, all affecting the validity of a test event, are impacted. For example, the drying time of a deposit and how well the threat is transferred to a substrate of interest can affect the alarm rate of the ETD equipment being tested.

One specific piece of equipment, a desiccator cabinet, utilized by staff at the TSL was previously purchased from Terra Universal for the use of keeping PTFE strips containing threat deposits at constant humidity. However, this unit is very large and takes long periods (greater than three hours in some cases) for humidity to decrease to desired levels after the door is opened even once. During a test event, the dry box can be opened at least five times an hour to put PTFE strips away for storage/drying, which can extend the required time for the desiccator cabinet to recover to an entire day or longer. The Trace Laboratory at the TSL is pursuing replacement desiccator cabinets (qty. 3) that allow for more consistent humidity control which can ensure the validity of test articles used during certification testing.

2. SCOPE

Based on the information provided above, TSL requires the acquisition of new desiccator cabinets (qty. 3) to replace the current desiccator cabinets in the laboratory. The table below shows the items for purchase from Terra Universal.

Item Number

Plated, two with Brakes 1700-44

The equipment includes a limited warranty of 1-year parts, 90 days labor.

3. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

The vendor shall provide all equipment, parts, software, and accessories listed in 2.0 Scope to the TSL. The following applicable standards and benefits must be achieved as part of the objectives:

· Manufacturers original warranty must be honored and shall begin after installation is completed.

· If service is required, it will be scheduled at a time mutually agreed upon by both the service provider and the TSL

· Contractor will provide telephone and email support to isolate and resolve hardware and software problems.

· All delivery-related charges must be included, and delivery must be made to the primary place of performance (4.2)

4. OPERATING CONSTRAINTS

A. Shipping

a. All shipments shall be addressed to the TSL POC.

b. An email shall also be sent to the TSL POC with the corresponding tracking information for any equipment being delivered to the TSL.

5. OTHER CONTRACT DETAILS

5.1. Delivery

This is a one-time purchase. The contractor will deliver all items as stated 90 days after award. If the TSL were to be closed during this time frame, delivery and/or training will be scheduled accordingly when the Transportation Security Laboratory reopens and, on a date, mutually agreed to by the Contractor and Contracting Officer Representative. Delivery driver and service staff must be performed and/or provided by a sole U.S. citizen due to site requirements.

5.2. Place of Performance

The primary place of performance will be located at the TSL, William J. Hughes Technical Center, Bldg. 315, Atlantic City, NJ, 08405.

If physical products are being procured as part of this acquisition, delivery of any items purchased by the government and associated with the performance of this SOW shall be delivered to this address only. Delivery to any location other than the address specified in this section of the SOW is not allowable and the contractor shall be fully responsible for any subsequent or additional charges that may result from ensuring final delivery to the address listed in this section.

5.3. Contracting Officer’s Representative

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for this contract is designated in accordance with Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) 3052.242-72 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR, DEC 2003).

The COR for this contract is:

Maria Torres

DHS S&T TSL

William J. Hughes Technical Center, Bldg. 315 Atlantic City, NJ 08405 Phone: (609) 813-2715 Email: Maria.Torres@ST.DHS.GOV

5.4. Contracting Officer

(1) The contracting officer (CO) is the only person authorized to approve changes to any of the terms and conditions of this task order. In the event the contractor effects any changes at the direction of any person other than the CO, the changes will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any increase in costs incurred as a result thereof. The CO shall be the only individual authorized to accept nonconforming work, waive any requirement of the contract, or to modify any term or condition of the contract. The CO is the only individual who can legally obligate government funds. No cost chargeable to the proposed contract can be incurred before receipt of a fully executed contract, which includes any subsequent contract modifications or other specific written authorization from the CO.

(2) The contractor shall not comply with any order, direction, or request of government personnel unless it is issued in writing and signed by the CO or is pursuant to specific authority otherwise included as a part of this contract. No order, statement, or conduct of government personnel, other than the CO, who visit the contractor’s facilities or in any other manner communicate with contractor personnel during the performance of this contract shall constitute a change under the Changes clause of this contract.

(3) The CO’s name and contact information will be provided upon the contract award.

5.5. Invoicing

Invoices shall be submitted to the following email address while carbon copying (CC) the COR and CO.

· InvoiceSAT.Consolidation@ice.dhs.gov

5.6. Advertisements, Publicizing Awards, and News Releases

All press releases or announcements about agency programs, projects, and contract awards need to be cleared by the COR and the CO. Under no circumstances shall the contractor, or anyone acting on behalf of the contractor, refer to the supplies, services, or equipment furnished pursuant to the provisions of this contract in any publicity news release or commercial advertising without first obtaining explicit written consent to do so from the COR and the CO. The contractor agrees not to refer to awards in commercial advertising in such a manner as to state or imply that the product or service provided is endorsed or preferred by the federal government or is considered by the government to be superior to other products or services.

5.7. Additional Point of Contact:

DHS/TSL TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE:

Alicia Broderick, PhD

DHS S&T TSL

William J. Hughes Technical Center, Bldg. 315 Atlantic City, NJ 08405 Phone: (609) 813-2783 Email: alicia.broderick@ST.DHS.GOV