02_04221_SOW_LC_system_v2.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE: Procurement of a liquid chromatography system LAB REQUESTING SERVICE: Material Measurement Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) is responsible for chemical measurements leading to the certification of a large number of Standard Reference Materials (SRM). Increasingly, the measurement needs in life science, food, and nutrition require standards for elemental species, because the toxicity and nutritional values of an element are determined by the bioavailability of the element, and the bioavailability of the element is dependent on the speciation of the element. For example, chromium (+6) is toxic while chromium (+3) is an essential nutrient, and inorganic arsenic (As) in food and drink is toxic and regulated whereas arsenic in seafood in the form of arsenobetaine is harmless. A liquid chromatography system (LC) is required for the separation or speciation of the elemental species, and the separated species are then detected by an elemental detector such as an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The LC system in service in our group was acquired thirteen years ago that frequently malfunction, and the LC product was discontinued by the manufacturer years ago. Although the repair services were still available, we were informed that the manufacturer had stopped the production of the parts so there was no guarantee for availability of the parts needed for the service. Moreover, the LC fluid path contains stainless steel parts which makes it inappropriate for chromium (Cr) measurements, and the ICP-MS detector for the LC is susceptible to isobaric interferences particularly in Cr and selenium (Se) measurements. A new LC compatible for chromium speciation is needed to maintain and advance our elemental speciation capability and competence to meet the increasing needs in health and life science measurements. Acquisition of a new LC that is compatible with the recently installed triple quadrupole ICP-MS can leverage the advanced detection capability of the mass spectrometer to allow interference free measurements of biologically significant elements such as As, Cr, and Se.

The LC system of this acquisition 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 LC system must be capable of measuring biologically significant elements such as As, Co, Cr, and Se; therefore, the flow path of the LC system must be metal-free and biocompatible. The flow rate must be compatible with the Agilent 8800 ICP-MS intended as the detector as well as the fraction collector inclusive of this acquisition for research and off-line determination by techniques such as neutron activation analysis (NAA) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Because the Agilent 8800 will be used as the detector of the LC system, the LC system must be able to be controlled through the Agilent 8800 instrument controller for unified operation of the LC system and the ICP-MS detector. This unified configuration of the LC system with the ICP-MS allows fully functioned and integrated operation of LC-ICP-MS and data analysis.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide one (1) LC system consisting of a bio-inert LC quaternary pump, a bio-inert temperature controllable autosampler, a bio-inert temperature controllable LC column oven, and a bio-inert fraction collector. The Contractor shall install the LC system and provide training sessions for the LC system and the unified operation of the LC-ICP-MS system. Service and maintenance agreements for the LC system will be provided for the warranty period.

III. SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall provide an Agilent 1260 Infinity Bio-inert quaternary LC, or equivalent. The LC system shall include the equivalent of (1) an Agilent 1260 Infinity bio-inert Quaternary Pump, (2) an Agilent 1260 Infinity bio-inert High Performance Autosampler, (3) an Agilent 1290 Infinity Thermostatted Column Compartment, and (4) an Agilent 1260 bio-inert Analytical Scale Fraction Collector. The Contractor shall install the instrument and provide training as described below. The salient characteristics of the Agilent system are as follows.

Salient Characteristics:

1. Physical characteristics:

a. The LC system shall be of self-contained stackable modular design, consisting of a quaternary pump module, an autosampler module, a column oven module, and a fraction collector module. The LC system shall include an inline degasser, either as an integrated component of another module within the LC system or as a standalone module. The sample flow path of the LC system shall be bio-inert and metal-free, and it must be able to work in pH range from 1.0 to 13.0.

b. The LC system must be provided with hardware for connection to the intended detector, an Agilent model 8800 ICP-MS that has a sample uptake rate between 0.1 mL/min to 1 mL/min.

c. The LC system must be able to be controlled by MassHunter version 4.2 or higher that resides on the Agilent 8800 ICP-MS for unified operation of LC-ICP-MS. The unified operation refers to the unified control of the LC-ICP-MS through the use of MassHunter (1) to set the autosampler and LC elution parameters for a measurement, (2) to suspend and resume a measurement sequence, (3) to add or delete a sample during a programmed measurement sequence without stopping the sequence, and (4) to automatically stop the pump of the LC system and the plasma of the ICP-MS at the end of a measurement sequence.

2. Minimum performance specification of the LC system

a. The quaternary pump must be able to operate from 0 Pa to 60 MPa at flow rate up to 5 mL/min. The precision for solvent mixing expressed as one standard deviation relative to the mean (RSD) must be < 0.2%. The flow range must be settable from 0.001 mL/min to 10 mL/min at 0.001 increment. The RSD of the flow must be < 0.07 %. The accuracy of the flow shall be ± 1 % of the set value.

b. The column oven module shall be able to house a minimum of two (2) 30 mm length columns. The user-settable temperature range shall be from (ambient temperature – 10) °C to 100 °C. The stability of the temperature shall be ±0.05 °C of the set temperature.

c. The autosampler module shall have the capacity to address at least 100 of 2 mL standard size autosampler vials. The volume of injection shall range from 1 µL to 100 µL in 0.1 µL increment. The RSD of the injection volume must be <0.25 % and the accuracy of the volume must be ± 1 % of the set value when the injection volume is ≥10 µL. The temperature of the sample holder must be controllable between 4 °C to 40 °C to support the processing of thermo-labial samples and analytes.

d. The analytical-scale fraction collector module shall be able to operate at system flow rates up to 10 mL/min. The delay volume must be ≤ 50 µL. The module must be able to address a minimum of 60 units of 15 mL autosampler tubes. The temperature of the sample holder must be controllable between 4 °C to 40 °C to support the processing of thermo-labial samples and analytes.

Installation:

The Contractor shall install the LC system in Building 227, Room B311, at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. The installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of all equipment, start-up, demonstration of specifications, and demonstration of the unified operation of the LC system with the Agilent 8800 ICP-MS in the laboratory. The LC system will operate to manufacturer’s specifications upon 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. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, training and demonstration of all required specifications.

Training:

The Contractor shall provide training at the installation site for up to 6 NIST personnel. The training shall include the unified operation of the LC system with Agilent 8800 ICP-MS, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance. The training will 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 shall occur immediately after the installation of the LC system 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 award of this requirement.

V. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Manufacturing will occur at the Contractor’s facility. Installation of the LC system, specification acceptance tests, and training shall be accomplished at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. 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

VIII. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

The Contractor shall demonstrate that all performance standards in this statement of work have been met.

IX. GENERAL INFORMATION

Safety: The Contractor employee shall be responsible for knowing and complying with NIST installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and also is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Identification Badges: Contractor employees shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed on the vehicle’s rear view mirror in accordance with instructions.