Sources Sought (W911QX26QA098).doc

Sources Sought

(1) Action Code :

SOURCES SOUGHT

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

(2) Date: 17 June 2026

(3) Classification Code: 6640

(4) NAICS Code: 334516

(5) NAICS Size Standard: 1,000 Employees

(6) Contracting Office Address:

2800 Powder Mill Road Bldg. 601 Adelphi, Maryland 20783

(7) Subject: Sources Sought for one (1) Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System and ancillary parts.

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: W911QX26QA098

(9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: Three (3) days after posting

(10) Contact Point: Melissa Murphy, Contract Specialist, melissa.m.murphy20.civ@army.mil (11)

A. Objective:

To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation.

B. The Government requires one (1) Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System and ancillary parts.

1. The APC system shall have the following capabilities and options:

· The system shall possess an automatic start-up routine to ready the system for operation.

· The system’s fluidic path shall be compatible with a wide range of solvents and mobile phase modifiers, supporting a pH range of at least two (2) to twelve (12).

· The system shall include integrated leak detection sensors and a drip management system to ensure safe operation.

· The system shall feature comprehensive, integrated diagnostics with the ability to log key operational parameters (e.g., pressures, temperatures) for troubleshooting and maintenance.

2. The Solvent Delivery Manager shall have the following capabilities and options:

· Shall be capable of delivering both aqueous and organic solvents at high pressures, up to a minimum of 15,000 pounds per square inch (psi), to be compatible with small-particle size columns.

· Shall have integrated vacuum degassing for the mobile phase.

· Shall have an integrated and automated pump seal wash system.

· Shall support automated, unattended switching between multiple solvents

· Shall have automatic and continuous compressibility compensation to ensure stable flow at high pressures.

· Shall provide high-precision flow delivery with a flow accuracy of at least plus or minus one percent (±1.0%).

3. The Sample Manager / Injector shall have the following capabilities and options:

· The injector shall be capable of operating across the full pressure range of the solvent delivery manager (up to 15,000 psi).

· Shall feature an integrated and programmable needle wash to minimize sample carryover.

· The sample compartment must be temperature-controlled with a settable range of at least four degrees Celsius to forty degrees Celsius (4°C to 40°C).

4. The Column Manager / Oven shall have the following capabilities and options:

· Shall have active pre-heating of the solvent before it enters the column to ensure thermal uniformity.

· Shall have a temperature-controlled range of at least four degrees Celsius to ninety degrees Celsius (4.0°C to 90.0°C) with an accuracy of ±0.5°C.

· Shall provide a method for automated tracking of column history and usage.

· The compartment shall accommodate at least three (3) 150-millimeter (mm) length columns.

5. The Refractive Index (RI) Detector have the following capabilities and options:

· Shall have a low-volume flow cell to minimize dispersion.

6. The Photodiode Array (PDA) Detector shall have the following capabilities and options:

· Shall be compatible with high-speed, high-resolution separations and feature low-dispersion flow cells.

7. The Data Analysis and Reporting Software shall have the following capabilities and options:

· The system Shall include a comprehensive data package specifically designed for polymer analysis that allows for:

· Calculation of molecular weight distributions (Mn, Mw, Mz, Polydispersity)

· Gel Permeation Chromatography / Size Exclusion Chromatography (GPC/SEC) -specific calibration workflows (e.g., relative, universal, narrow standard).

· Generation of polymer-focused reports, including molecular weight distribution curves and custom fields.

C. Responses:

All interested parties should notify this office by e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include:

(I) To what extent each of the specifications can be met.

(II) Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 1,000 employees standard that accompanies NAICS code 334516. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].

(III) Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects.

(12) Responses to this sources sought are due no later than 12:00 PM eastern standard time thee (3) days after date of posting. Submissions should be emailed to Melissa Murphy, mliessa.m.murphy20.civ@army.mil.

Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Melissa Murphy, mliessa.m.murphy20.civ@army.mil. Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted.

(13) Place of Contract Performance:

Army Research Laboratory

6300 Rodman Road, Building 4600

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

21005

(14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: No Later Than (NLT) 30 days after contract award

Last updated 2/13/2017