Requirements Document Final .pdf

Requirements Document

ICP-MS and Digestion System

I. Background

The Fire Research Division (FRD) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Engineering Laboratory provides measurements observed in fire and combustion experiments to enhance the standards and practice of the U.S. firefighting services and other fire-related organizations. The research conducted in FRD requires instrumentation that is utilized in a variety of experiments that observe a wide range of compositions, including metals and cellulosic materials. Detecting and quantifying various elements in different applications is crucial to understanding the physics of fire and accessing the risk fire presents across multiple scales (e.g., full-scale room burns, and benchtop experiments). One of the tools available to the FRD to characterize complex samples comprised of many elements is the inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometer (ICP/MS). Through its ability to ionize an injected sample, an ICP enables the breakdown of complex matrices. In addition, the mass spectrometer enables the selective detection of targeted analytes and qualitative screening of non-targeted or targeted species. A new ICP/MS system with the listed specifications would significantly upgrade the division’s capabilities for quantitatively, and semi-quantitatively measuring targeted and non-targeted elements in fire-related samples.

II. Specific Requirements

The contractor shall provide products meeting the following minimum requirements and specifications identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. The use of “gray market” components are not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Contractor is not acceptable. All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

The Contractor shall provide a Firm Fixed Price Quotation for the following Contract Line Items Numbers (CLIN):

1. CLIN 0001: The contractor shall provide an ICP/MS that meets the minimum specifications detailed below:

1.1) The ICP/MS system shall be a bench-top design, weighing less than 450 lbs. Components and sub systems that require power shall operate between 110 V and 240 V;

1.2) The ICP/MS system shall have the capability to perform simultaneous elemental analysis;

1.3) The ICP/MS system shall have parts per trillion level detection limits;

1.4) The ICP/MS hardware shall include a liquid sample introduction subsystem, a radio frequency generator, an interface between the sample cone and skimmer cone, an octopole collision/reaction Cell to eliminate spectral/polyatomic interferences using kinetic energy discrimination (KED) and electron multiplier detector, and a mass spectrometry detector consisting of at least a single quadrupole;

1.5) The ICP/MS system’s sample introduction subsystem shall consist of a cyclone spray chamber, coaxial type nebulizer, and quartz torch;

1.6) The ICP/MS system’s sample introduction subsystem shall include a cooling accessory with a temperature between -15°C and 15°C;

1.7) The ICP/MS system’s plasma torch shall have a single-piece mini-torch made of quartz that includes an inline-injector tube;

1.8) The ICP/MS system shall have the ability to control the plasma flow via computer;

1.9) The ICP/MS system shall have the capability to maintain a plasma flow rate of at least 4 L/min during standby mode;

1.10) The ICP/MS system shallt be able to automatically perform plasma ignition and torch alignment;

1.11) The ICP/MS system’s mass spectrometry detector shall have a mass number range of

6.9 to 238 with a radio frequency voltage of at least 2.0 MHz for separation of ions based on mass to charge ratio and mass stability of +/- 0.1u or better;

1.12) The ICP/MS system shall include an internal, double inlet turbo molecular pump capable of maintaining vacuum at 10 Bar or lower.

1.13) The ICP/MS system shall include an external rotary pump capable of maintaining a vacuum that ensures continuous operation of the ICP/MS.

1.14) The ICP/MS system shall include an autosampler capable of conducting automatic analysis controlled via software of at least 60 vials in a single sequence. Each vial must have a capacity of a least 15 ml. The autosampler must include a rinsing port to rinse samples in-between runs.

1.15) The ICP/MS shall include a computer, monitor, instrument control, and operation software to perform simultaneous control and data acquisition of the ICP and MS and all its accessories. The computer used for instrument control and data acquisition shall be a new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) equipment, with a Microsoft Windows 11 operating system or better, two network interface cards, or more than two if the ICP/MS modules communicate via IP addresses. The 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 one (1) 24-inch monitor with a minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080 dpi. The computer system and monitor shall not consist of any refurbished materials. Data reporting (e.g., integrated peak areas and mass spectra) shall be capable of export to Microsoft Excel for subsequent processing. The computer must include software capable of controlling and communicating with all components of the ICP/MS system, executing all data acquisition, and performing quantitative and qualitative analysis.

1.16) The contractor shall provide at least one (1) electronic copy in PDF format of the operations and maintenance manual covering proper operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting for the instrument and controlling software to the NIST Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

2. CLIN 0002: The contractor shall provide a Sample Digestion System that meets the minimum specifications detailed below:

2.1) The sample digestion system shall provide a microwave acid digestion system to dissolve metals, contained within a sample matrix, into liquid.

2.2) The sample digestion system shall be a bench-scale design, weighing less than 200 lbs.

Components and sub-systems that require power must operate between 110 V and 240 V;

2.3) The sample digestion system shall include an interface capable of storing, running, and maintaining a digestion method.

2.4) The sample digestion system shall include at least two USB ports, an ethernet port, and an RS232 port to backup methods and data;

2.5) The sample digestion system shall reach up to 200 degrees Celsius for each vessel and consistently maintain it for a minimum of 30 minutes;

2.6) The sample digestion system shall host sample vessels on a turntable;

2.7) The sample digestion system shall run at least 25 vessels in a single batch run;

2.8) Each vessel shall be made of a fluoropolymer material and have a minimum total volume of 40 mL;

2.9) The sample digestion system shall have the capability of accommodating different vessel sizes;

2.10) The sample digestion system shall include a contactless infrared (IR) sensors to monitor temperature;

2.11) The sample digestion system shall include a starter pack of at least 25 vessels

III. WARRANTY

The Contractor shall provide a one-year warranty for the system and adhere to FAR clause 52.212-4. All hardware and consumables for normal operation of the system and software shall be covered. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor, and travel. Only new OEM-certified parts shall be used in the repair and maintenance of the instrument. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, training, and demonstration of all required specifications. During the warranty period, the Contractor shall provide telephone support during normal business hours, on-site service and replacement of any defective equipment or software.

IV. Inspection and Acceptance In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the system is to be operated. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if performed, at the Contractor’s expense.

Performance Tests:

1. Operate and test the equipment in accordance with the minimum requirement specifications provided for the line items listed above.

NIST may choose at its discretion to forego this part of acceptance testing.

A visual inspection of the equipment will be performed by the NIST COR to identify surface defects or any form of indication that any equipment was damaged during transport to NIST.

The Government shall have sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance shall reject the equipment due to defects and/or nonconformance. The contractor is responsible for latent defects discovered any time after final inspection.

However, the extent of its liability shall be prorated over the useful life of the equipment.

Ownership of the equipment shall transfer to NIST upon acceptance by the Government.

The Government will test, inspect, and accept or reject the equipment within (60 working days it will take to inspect, accept or reject) of the receipt of the equipment unless otherwise indicated above. The Government reserves the right to conduct quality assurance testing to confirm that a given instrument(s) meets the manufacturer’s and/or the Government’s performance specifications. It is anticipated that the equipment will meet all manufacturer’s specifications and/or the Government’s performance specifications identified in the most recent operations and maintenance manual for each piece of equipment and/or in this document.

V. Delivery Terms

Delivery shall be F.O.B Destination and shall occur in accordance with a delivery due in accordance with OEM commercial practices, not to exceed 180 days from the award date.

FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The Polishing System shall be delivered in a fully assembled and ready-to-use state. The contractor shall deliver all Line Items to:

Delivery shall be made to the NIST Shipping and Receiving address identified below. The delivery will then be directed to the equipment’s final destination, also identified below.

NIST Shipping & Receiving 100 Bureau Drive Building 301 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001

NIST Final Equipment Destination:

100 Bureau Drive Building 224, Room A356 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001

The Contractor shall comply with the 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

VI. Installation The Contractor shall install the equipment in Building 224 at NIST Gaithersburg, MD. The installation shall occur during normal business hours, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except for Federal Holidays, and will be coordinated with the NIST COR. Installation is to occur within 30 calendar days after delivery of equipment.

VII. TRAINING

The Contractor shall provide training at NIST for up to five (5) NIST personnel covering normal operation and troubleshooting and routine maintenance as applicable. Training shall be provided during normal business hours, between 8:30am and 5:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays, and shall be coordinated with the NIST Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to ensure maximum availability of NIST personnel. Training shall occur within 30 calendar days after installation and acceptance.

VIII. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Advance payment is not authorized. The Contractor must invoice in arrears according to the payment schedule. The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 100% after receipt, inspection and acceptance of the fully delivered supply.

NOTE: Partial shipments and partial invoices will not be accepted, unless otherwise requested and accepted by the Contracting Officer prior to award offer. Proposed payment schedules shall be submitted with vendor’s response to the RFQ for consideration.

IX. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

SITE ACCESS AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:

NIST is a Federal facility and access is controlled at all entrances to the campus. Only Government employees may grant access to non-Government employees. All non-Government employees must be registered with security prior to site access. Non-Government employees, including those with Visitor Passes (Yellow Badges), must be escorted by Government employees at all times. The Contractor shall notify the COR a minimum of 48 hours prior to site access. Contractor shall provide the COR with first and last names, country of citizenship, and whether the individual has a permanent resident card, (a.k.a. Green Card), of all personnel requiring site access. If any individuals are here on a work visa, they must complete a NIST 1260 form and return to the COR.

https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses

Please refer to the following web site for additional Visitor Information http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/visitor/

Automobile & Personnel Access:

Contractor personnel arriving in cars on their first day must check in at the visitor center to receive a temporary paper badge prior to proceeding to the project site. Hours of operation of the visitor center are 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. Once in possession of a valid NIST badge, workers may enter via the Main Gate and proceed to the project site. Note that all automobiles are subject to a random inspection.

Trucks:

All Trucks are to enter NIST via the gate located at approximately 705 Quince Orchard Rd.

Gaithersburg, MD 20899, between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM daily. No deliveries will be allowed after 4:30 pm. “Trucks” include such vehicles as pick-ups with storage compartments, delivery trucks, delivery vans, and tractor center. Trucks arriving at NIST shall be inspected at the Truck Inspection area near Building 301. Any truck which exits NIST will have to be re-inspected upon re-entry. A vehicle dashboard placard will be placed within the truck. Placards change daily.

NIST Truck Inspection Stations hours are:

6:00 AM -4:30 PM at Truck Inspection area near building 301

Equipment Safety Requirements:

Contractor equipment on the NIST campus may not be left in emergency response locations, or other locations pertinent to general safety such as crosswalks, next to campus perimeter fences, areas which may block traffic or exits, etc. Prior to the contract’s start of performance, the Contractor shall furnish a list of equipment that is expected to be left on NIST’s campus during the installation process. The list shall be discussed with the NIST Office of Security to determine locations which meet security requirements and are reasonable for the work to be performed.

Travel: No travel costs associated with this requirement will be reimbursable by the Government. All cost of travel incurred by the contractor shall be included in the total price of the contract.