02_02904_SOW_Triple-quadrupole_ICP-MS_v2lly.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE: Procurement of two triple-quad ICP-MSs LAB REQUESTING SERVICE: Material Measurement Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is responsible for chemical measurements leading to the certification of a large number of Standard Reference Materials (SRM). The trace elements in the SRMs are measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS). The non-magnetic sector based ICP-MS instruments operating within the CSD are of a design consisting a single quadrupole mass analyzer equipped with a collision/reaction cell (referred to as single-quad below). A single-quad ICP-MS cannot accurately measure clinically and environmentally important elements due to isobaric interferences, for example, Mn and Ti in blood, P and S in peptides, isotope dilution analysis of S in fossil fuels and biodiesel, Se in Gd-based MRI contract agents, ppb level Cd in 100s ppm of Mo, As and Se in rare earth samples, etc. NIST requires an instrument consisting a quadrupole followed by an octopole collision/reaction cell and a second quadrupole mass analyzer (referred to as triple-quad ICP-MS below), capable of accurate measurements of the analytes in the aforementioned matrices due to its ability to alleviate isobaric interferences by independently scanning the two quadrupole mass analyzer and by nature of its inherent superior abundance sensitivity. Acquisition and installation of triple-quad ICP-MS instruments within CSD will fill the gap in CSD’s metrology capability and improve the accuracy in standards research and development.

The Elemental Measurement Science Group and the Environmental Measurement Science Group within CSD will each acquire an identical ICP-MS. The instrument will be used for standards development research and value-assign measurement of SRMs. Based on the SRMs produced by NIST and the forward looking assessment of industrial needs for new SRMs, the new instrument must be capable of measuring sub ng/g levels of elements (excluding fluorine, carbon, and gaseous elements) from mass 2 to mass 260. The sources of these SRMs include environmental, agricultural, nutritional, biological, clinical, metallurgical, and geological materials. The matrix of these SRMs ranges from simple rain water, to low salt biological tissues and fluids, to high salt soil, sediment, ores, and alloys. Many of the measurement applications may encounter isobaric interferences as in the examples described above.

The required triple-quad ICP-MS must be capable of resolving these isobaric interferences. The instrument must also have interoperability with accessories such as liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography (GC), laser ablation (LA), and equipment/protocols for single nanoparticle detection. Only one instrument, the Agilent 8800 triple-quadrupole ICP-MS, was found to meet the performance required of these applications. The essential characteristics of the Agilent 8800 is that it incorporates an inductively coupled plasma ionization source and two quadrupole mass filter each with unit mass resolution. Each quadrupole is able to independently scan from 2 amu to 260 amu. A collision/reaction cell is situated between the two quadrupole mass filters. This configuration of the instrument allows independent selection of precursor ions and product ions and affords 10-10 abundance sensitivity for resolving isobaric interferences. The minimum salient characteristics for the acquisition below were developed with Agilent 8800 triple-quad ICP-MS as a reference for this “Brand Name or Equal” requirement. Any instrument that meets or exceeds the minimum performance salient characteristics detailed below will be considered for award.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide two (2) ICP-MS instruments. The Contractor shall install the instruments and provide training sessions for each instrument. A minimum period of one year product warranty shall be provided for each instrument.

III. SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall provide two (2) identical analytical instrument systems (referred to as the Instrument below) that meet the following minimum technical requirements. The Contractor shall install the instrument and provide training as described below.

System Requirements:

1. Physical characteristics:

a. The instrument shall be of a bench-top design.

b. The instrument shall include a high capacity autosampler supporting up to 250 samples at 15 mL each in a single unattended measurement. The sample introduction system shall be resistant to samples containing hydrogen fluoride (HF). The sampling and skimmer cones shall be tipped with platinum for corrosion/contamination resistance and durability.

c. The instrument shall include a solid state radio frequency (RF) generator to sustain an analytical inductively coupled plasma between 500 W to 1600 W. The plasma gas supply shall consist a dedicated gas flow channel to accommodate O2 or helium for organic solvent or laser ablation analysis. Each channel of gas supply must be controlled by dedicated mass flow controller for stability.

d. The mass spectrometer shall include a collision/reaction cell that supports kinetic energy discrimination (KED) for removal of interfering species. The collision/reaction cell must be able to use He, H2, O2, and NH3 as collision or reaction gas. There shall be quadrupole mass filters on either side of the collision/reaction cell each with unit mass resolution to facilitate independent selection of ionic species before and after collision/reaction. The detector of the mass spectrometer after the second mass filter shall be an auto-switching dual-mode discrete dynode electron multiplier detector capable of transient signal measurements with a 3 ms sweep time for single nanoparticle analysis.

e. Instrument control and operation software shall include capabilities to perform independent precursor ion scan, product ion scan, and neutral gain scan. Data report shall support export to Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for subsequent processing in the spreadsheet. The Instrument software and hardware shall support LC and GC hardware to enable direct link to the Instrument for LC or GC-ICP-MS measurement. The operation of LC or GC-ICP-MS shall be capable of read trigger at sample injection, automatic data acquisition, pause the data acquisition on demand during the LC or GC analysis using the software of the Instrument, data analysis including peak integration using the software of the Instrument, and automatic LC (or GC) and plasma shut down at the completion of the last sample in an unattended analysis.

f. For each instrument, upon installation, the contractor must provide an operations and maintenance manual covering proper operation, routine maintenance, and trouble shooting for the instrument and controlling software. The manual shall be supplied in hard copy and electronic format.

g. For each instrument, the contractor shall supply a work bench to mount the instrument and the autosampler. For each instrument, the contractor shall supply a cover that dampens noise of the mechanical pump of the instrument.

h. For each instrument, the contractor shall provide one unit of each consumable and maintenance item for the instrument. For example, if a Contractor supplies the Agilent 8800 in the resultant contract, they shall include for each instrument a Comprehensive Spares Kit 8800, platinum tipped sampling and skimmer cones, torch for HF resistant sample introduction system, and ion extraction lens.

2. Minimum performance specification

a. Each mass filter shall have a minimum working range of 2 amu to 260 amu with unit mass resolution. The abundance sensitivity, as measured at Cs mass of 133 shall be <5 x 10-7 at low mass side and <1 x 10-7 at high mass side for each mass filter. The maximum abundance sensitivity of the mass spectrometer shall be <10-10.

b. The detector of the mass spectrometer shall have a minimum dwell time of 100 µs, a minimum time resolved acquisition sweep time of 3 ms, and a linear operating range of over 9 orders of magnitude.

c. The instrument shall meet the minimum performance criteria in Table 1. Specification with an asterisk indicates the performance requires both mass filters operating in single mass resolution mode.

Table 1. Minimum Performance Criteria

Y (89) Tl (205) >100 >250 >200

Mass 238 <0.2 <0.2

In (115) U (238) 0.1 0.05 0.05

Se (78) Sample in 100 ppm Ca + 2 % HCl.

P (e.g. as PO+)

Y (89) Tl (205) <3 <3 <3

Y (89) Tl (205)

<3 <3 <3

Installation:

The Contractor shall install one Instrument in Building 227, Room B311, at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. The Contractor shall install one Instrument in Hollings Marine Laboratories (HML), Room C203, at NIST in Charleston, SC. Each installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of all equipment, start-up, and demonstration of specifications. Instrument shall operate to manufacturer’s specifications upon installation. For each instrument, within ten days of installation, the Contractor shall provide an installation report demonstrating that all performance standards have been met. Installation will take place during normal business hours, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays, and will be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). Installation is to occur within 8 weeks of award.

Warranty:

The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, a one year warranty for the equipment. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor and travel required to maintain continued operation in accordance with the specifications contained herein. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, training and demonstration of all required specifications.

Training:

For each instrument, the Contractor shall provide training at the installation site (in Gaithersburg and Charleston) for up to 6 NIST personnel covering normal operation, troubleshooting, routine maintenance, and applications. The application training shall cover semiquantitative analysis, quantitative analysis of S, P, Cd, As, Se, Cr, Fe, sub ng/g Fe in > 1 mg/g Mn, isotope ratio and isotope dilution analysis, transient signal analysis, data report, and data export for all applications. Training shall be provided during normal business hours, between 8:30am and 5:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays, and will be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ensure maximum availability of NIST personnel. Training is to occur within 10 days of installation or on dates coordinated by NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC).

IV. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be one (1) year from acceptance by the Government of the triple-quad ICP-MSs.

V. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Manufacturing shall occur at the Contractor’s facility. Installation of the instrument, specification acceptance tests, and training shall be accomplished at the local installation site within NIST in Gaithersburg, MD, and in Charleston, SC. Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of Federal holidays.

VI. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

None

VII. DELIVERABLES

The deliverables apply to each site at NIST Gaithersburg, MD and HML Charleston, SC, respectively.

VIII. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

The Contractor may submit an invoice after all deliverables required by the Statement of Work have been accepted by the Government. Acceptance of Deliverables 1-2 will occur after the Contractor demonstrates that all performance criteria in Table 1 have been met. Acceptance of Deliverables 3-4 will occur upon receipt of the deliverables by the Government. Acceptance of Deliverable 5 will occur after both required training sessions have been completed.