SOW FOR RFQ.pdf

Request for Quotation Number 1333ND22QNB640544

Statement of Work

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Security Technologies Group (STG), in the

Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD), is involved with synthesis and characterization of various polymeric fibers, films, and composites, including those incorporating nanoparticles into their structure.

The Division requires a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) for performing thermal measurements on polymeric samples. The TGA measures the mass of a material as it is heated in a furnace. In general, the TGA has an operating temperature range, the ability to hold a constant temperature, ability to ramp temperature, and the ability to use different gas environments.

The required TGA will support several projects in the protective materials program and is critical for meeting milestones in this program, as well as work with other operating units (OU) and external collaborations that require thermal decomposition measurements.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide a thermogravimetric analyzer, including delivery, site preparation, installation, training and warranty. All specifications identified herein must be met or exceeded.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

-The system shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements identified below.

-All equipment must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award or accepted if delivered.

- Experimental, prototype, or “gray market” equipment, not authorized for sale in U.S. by the proposer, will not be considered for award or accepted if delivered.

-All items shall be shipped in the original manufacture’s packaging and include all original documentation and software.

SPECIFICATIONS & SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

1. Temperature Control

a. Range: ambient to 1000 C or wider

b. Rate min 0.1 C/min to max 100 C/min or better as a controlled linear ramp

c. Maximum possible rate: 500 C/min or better as a ballistic rate. Maximum heating rate is preferred.

d. Temperature accuracy: ± 1 C or better.

e. Temperature precision: ± 0.1 C or better

f. Furnace cooling via forced air to achieve a cooling rate from 1000 C to ambient temperature at a min rate of 75 C/min or better

2. Balance & Furnace

a. Maximum mass 1000 mg or better

b. Dynamic mass range of 500 mg or better

c. Mass precision ± 0.01 % of mass or 0.1 mg for a 1000 mg mass or better.

d. Mass resolution 0.1 micrograms (0.0001 mg) or better. Better mass resolution is preferred.

e. Drift of less than 25 micrograms (0.025 mg) or lower over whole temperature range without the need to apply a baseline correction. Lower drift is preferred.

f. One year furnace warranty or better.

g. Capable of supporting evolved gas measurements: furnace outlet may be fed into a Fourier-Transform

Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) or Mass Spectrometer (MS). This can be a specialized furnace or attachment, see OPTIONS below.

h. Capable of storing pan tare values for up to 20 pans or more.

3. Sample Environments

a. Pan types

i. Platinum;

ii. Alumina Ceramic;

iii. Aluminum;

iv. Ability to use sealed pans

b. Autosampler: minimum of 20 individual samples

c. Gas purging:

i. Mass flow controller for a minimum of two gas environment purges: Nitrogen and Air into the furnace/sample environment. Additional gases (Argon) would exceed the requirement.

ii. Dedicated purge of inert gas (Nitrogen) controlled by mass flow controller for balance.

iii. Balance and furnace must have separate, independent control of mass flow rates.

iv. Ability to switch gases within an experiment.

v. Ability to set gas flow rates to zero at end of experimental method

vi. Capability of supporting a gas blending environment into the furnace/sample environment via mass flow controllers. Combine a minimum of three (3) gases or more gases into the furnace sample environment. Mass flow controllers support following gases at a minimum: Nitrogen, Air, Helium, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, or Carbon Monoxide. Support for additional gases would exceed the requirement.

4. Calibrations

a. Ability to calibrate furnace temperature via Curie Point Calibrations as specified in ASTM E1582.

5. Software

a. Instrument must be controlled by external software. Software must be capable of running on Windows

b. Ability to control instrument from software

c. Ability to tare pan weights using the instrument software

d. Ability to calibrate autosampler and instrument balance from software

e. Ability to execute manufacturer supplied experimental programs or user defined experimental programs

i. Linear ramp or temperature

ii. Ramp temperature – isotherm

iii. Auto-stepwise methods – move to next phase of program at a set mass loss, set temperature, or set length of time.

f. Software must contain standard analysis tools for experimental data. All of the following must be provided, at a minimum:

i. Weight change (absolute or as a percentage of initial mass)

ii. Residual mass content

iii. First and Second derivative of mass with time or temperature

iv. Mass at a user specified time or temperature

v. Mass loss at a user specified time or temperature

vi. Peak height and area calculations

vii. Temperature at peak mass loss

viii. Onset of mass loss

ix. Step mass loss analysis.

g. Export data in the following formats: CSV, Excel, Image format for analysis software generated graphs.

h. Ability to install the software on up to three computers for off-line analysis

i. Ability to export instrument calibration information, experimental method details, and sample information.

6. Software must be installed on a Contractor-provide personal computer-based package: Windows 10 operating system compatible.

7. Documentation:

a. A manual describing all procedures to operate the instrument must be delivered with the equipment –

Electronic or hard copy versions are acceptable

b. A manual describing the calibration procedures – Electronic or hard copy versions are acceptable .

c. Instruction manuals of the original equipment manufacturer for all third party components must be delivered with the equipment. Electronic or hard copy versions are acceptable .

d. One copy of a manual describing the operation of the data acquisition and analysis software shall be delivered with the equipment. Electronic or hard copy versions are acceptable .

TRADE IN CREDIT

The Government prefers, but does not require, that the Contractor accept the following NIST-owned equipment for trade in credit:

Make: TA Instruments

Model: Q500

Description: Thermogravimetric Analyzer

Serial Number: DFLT_635267

Operating Status: Operating to manufacturer’s specifications

SEPARATELY PRICED OPTION LINE ITEMS

Line Items 0005 through 0008 are separately priced option line items. The Contractor shall provide pricing for all separately priced option line items. The Government may exercise these option line items, at its discretion, at the time of award, or at any time not later than one year from the date of award. Prices for separately priced option line items shall remain in effect for a period of one year from the date of award.

Delivery timelines will be negotiated if/when option line items are exercised.

Line Item 0005

Module to support gas blending environment into the furnace/sample environment via mass flow controllers.

Combine a minimum of three (3) gasses that include: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Air, Helium, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide.

Line Item 0006

Evolved Gas Furnace attachment to integrate furnace exhaust with an FT-IR. The following specifications must be met:

i.Ambient temperature to 1000 C or better ii.Linear temperature ramp of 0.1 C/min to 50 C/min

Line Item 0007

Six (6) platinum pans

Line Item 0008

Six (6) ceramic pans

SITE PREPARATION

The Contractor shall provide a complete list of facilitation requirements within 30-days of contract award. The requirements shall specify, at a minimum, electrical, space, and environmental requirements of the system.

INSTALLATION

Installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpackaging of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of the system, and demonstration of all specifications. Onsite installation and demonstration shall be done at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD- Building 220 Room A212.

The system shall be installed by the Contractor and meet contract specifications no later than 30 calendar days after delivery.

If a trade-in credit is quoted, the Contractor shall remove the TA Instruments Q500 from the laboratory and the NIST site.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

On-site Acceptance Test: The Contractor shall demonstrate correct operation of all functions of the instrument and control system before it is accepted at the NIST site.

TRAINING

The Contractor shall conduct one (1) training session for up to four (4) users at NIST. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, calibration, data administration, and basic troubleshooting. The training may be completed at NIST immediately after installation/set-up and on-site measurements demonstrating that no damage or misalignment issues arose during transportation and installation but shall be completed no later than 30 days after acceptance.

WARRANTY

The Contractor shall warrant the entire system, including ALL third-party components, for a period of at least one year. The Contractor guarantees the full system performance of the instrument, including third-party accessories, if these components have been purchased through them and are covered under the Contractor’s

Warranty or Service Contract. All costs including parts, labor, travel, and other expenses necessary to repair the system will be borne solely by the Contractor at no additional cost to the U.S. Government. The warranty must include unlimited telephone/e-mail support, during normal business hours, for questions regarding operation.

All costs including parts, labor, travel, and other expenses necessary to repair the system will be provided solely by the contractor at no additional cost to the U.S. Government.

COMPLETION OF WORK

Successful completion of delivery, installation, demonstration of specifications and training shall be completed not later than 180 days from the date of award.

DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERABLE DUE DATES

The Contractor shall provide:

1. A list of facilitation requirements , not later than 30 days after award;

2. Delivery of one (1) TGA no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after award of this requirement.

3. On-site installation and demonstration of the TGA shall be conducted not later than 30 calendar days of delivery to NIST.

4. Training on the TGA shall be completed at NIST no later than 30 days after installation.