RFI Balance Calibration.pdf

Laboratory Balance Calibration

Sources Sought/Request for Information

Mettler Toledo Balance Calibration Services

The United States Department of Justice (USDOJ)/Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requires Mettler Toledo Balance Calibration Services for one base year and four option years estimated to begin TBD. DEA is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to determine sources available.

Interested vendors should respond to this source sought with a capabilities statement outlining recent/relevant experience and how they are able to meet the intent of this requirement. The Government is using this market research to determine availability of sources, so please be sure to include Name of Business, Government Points of Contact, Unique Entity ID (UEI), Cage Code (as applicable), business size type/socio-economic status as represented/registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), and GSA Schedule/Contract number.

This market research and Sources Sought notice is not a solicitation announcement and will not constitute any commitment by the Government. A market survey is being conducted to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources to determine if they can effectively compete for award of a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

Interested vendors shall submit their capabilities packages addressing their interest and capability to provide the service stated on the below Statement of Work (SOW).

All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, the Government will not pay for information requested, nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. If information or capabilities packages are not received from at least two capable small business concerns by the response date or if the Government determines that no small businesses are capable of performing this requirement based upon an evaluation of the capabilities packages and information submitted; this requirement may be solicited under unrestricted full and open procedures.

Information/Capabilities packages shall be submitted (via e-mail) to the POC listed below not later than 10:00 am, Eastern Time, July 29, 2026. Any questions concerning this announcement shall be in writing (e-mail) to the POC listed below. No telephone calls will be accepted. POC: The Point of Contact is Jose Marin, Contract Specialist, jose.l.marin@dea.gov In the subject line of your email, state: "Response to D-26-SS-0051 Balance Calibration" No responses will be accepted by mail or fax. Submittals will not be returned. Telephonic responses will not be honored.

Statement of Work

1. Background The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of Forensic Sciences (SF) routinely measures weights and purities of seized drugs in liquid and solid forms in support of the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States. In accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements, SF provides a measurement uncertainty for both net weight and purity results. These measurements are recorded automatically using a Mettler Toledo LabX System which is incorporated in a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) at the DEA field laboratories. Mettler Toledo weighing equipment is essential for connectivity to these systems.

In an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, metrological traceability through an unbroken chain of calibrations is required for measurement results such as net weight measurements and purity determinations. To ensure traceability of measured values, balances used for net weight and purity determinations must be annually calibrated externally by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited calibration laboratory. For Mettler-Toledo balances, the external calibration mailto:jose.l.marin@dea.gov must be performed by Mettler-Toledo calibration technicians as the Mettler-Toledo calibration process and software can challenge internal weights that are part of the balance; third party vendors are not situated to evaluate these internal weights.

NIST-traceable calibrated reference weights must be utilized to perform the external calibration.

Information from the annual external balance calibration is also incorporated into the DEA laboratory system-wide uncertainty budget assessment for net weight and purity uncertainty values.

2. Objectives

To mitigate risk of inaccurate results, SF requires the on-site annual calibration of all balances by an ISO/IEC 17025 – accredited calibration laboratory/vendor. In addition, SF requires that specific information is included in the balance calibration certificates to assess both the measurement and purity uncertainty values. The specific information required on the analytical balance calibration certificates includes the following:

2.1. Balance-specific Information

2.1.1 DEA property number

2.1.2 Manufacturer

2.1.3 Model

2.1.4 Serial number

2.2. Stamp or Logo of the Calibration Laboratory/Vendor ISO/IEC 17025 Accrediting Body

2.3. Calibration Certificate Identification Number

2.3.1. Date and location of Calibration

2.4. Balance Capacity

2.5. Nominal Mass and traceability documentation of Weights Utilized for the Calibration

2.6. True Mass (“As Found” and “As Left” Values) for the Calibrations Performed

2.7. Tolerance

2.8. Repeatability Measurement Results “As Found” and “As Left”

2.9. Measurement Uncertainty and Uncertainty-in-Use Formula

2.10. Adjustments

2.11. Environmental Conditions

2.12. Test Equipment Used

2.13. Calibration Procedures, to include the internal weight challenge

3. Scope

The DEA laboratories (SFL1 – SFL8, SFLT, SFLP, SFLA, SFLX, SFLI, and SFT) utilize balances to measure net weights of controlled substances and to weigh test samples for controlled substance purity determinations. The laboratory system currently has between 500-550 balances ranging from a readability of 1 - 0.0000001 g. All require calibration annually.

This contract will provide uniformity throughout the DEA laboratory system with respect to calibration of laboratory balances and ensure compliance with accreditation requirements. In addition, this contract will ensure consistency in the information included on the calibration certificates as this information is utilized in the system-wide uncertainty budget assessment.

4. Tasks

On-site calibration of laboratory balances at each location (SFL1-SFL8, SFLT, SFLP, SFLA, SFLX, SFLI, and SFT) as determined by DEA. At the time of service, provide documentation that calibration was performed and balances are in proper working order and within manufacturer specifications. Documentation of calibration and results in electronic format to include xml and pdfs versions of calibration certificates.

Additionally, perform a calibration assessment and recommend a routine operation action plan and provide documentation in the form of a GWP (Good Weighing Practice) Verification appendix to the calibration certificate.

5. Government-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information (GFP, GFM, GFE, or GFI)

5.1. Personal Protective Equipment

5.2. Face mask

5.3. Laboratory coat

6. Security

All contractor personnel supporting this procurement are entrusted with a certain level of trust due to the nature of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) mission. The government expects the vendor will employ persons of integrity and trustworthiness. The DEA will require the contractor to provide a list of all personnel and their Personally Identifiable Information (PII) (Full Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number, and Place of Birth) assigned to this contract ten (10) business days prior to starting work. The Division Security Officer or delegated DEA employee will conduct criminal checks on all personnel assigned to this contract. All contractors shall be approved by the DEA before access to a facility is authorized. While in the facility, the contractor's team shall be escorted at all times.

7. Travel Travel to each site for installation and training will be paid by the Contractor.

8. Special Material Requirements

N/A

9. Other Unique Requirements N/A

10. Place of Performance Contractor will provide service at each of the following locations:

10.1. Dulles, Virginia

10.2. New York, New York

10.3. Largo, Maryland

10.4. Miami, Florida

10.5. Chicago, Illinois

10.6. Dallas, Texas

10.7. Pleasanton, California

10.8. Vista, California

10.9. Nashville, TN

10.10. Londonderry, NH

10.11. Atlanta, GA

10.12. Phoenix, AZ

10.13. El Paso, TX

10.14. Quantico, VA

11. Period of Performance Contract is valid for five years after it is awarded.