Anatech low temperature ashing system

The Dust Division of Technical Support needs to purchase one new Low Temperature Plasma system which is manufactured by Anatech USA. Only plasma systems manufactured by Anatech can be used for preparing respirable mine dust samples for quartz analysis using MSHA approved analytical methods. Sample preparation for both analyses requires an "ashing" process to burn off the collection media and organic content of the matrix. This is accomplished by exposing the samples to oxygen plasma at a temperature that is hot enough to burn off the organics in the sample, but not high enough to transform the structure of quartz. This process is referred to as "low temperature ashing" (LTA). The Dust Division labs currently analyze approximately 19,000 respirable mine dust samples a year collected by MSHA Inspectors at coal and metal/nonmetal (MNM) mining operations across the country as part of MSHA's Health Enforcement Program. Without enough capability to ash samples for the analysis the labs will not be able to meet established turnaround time goals for reporting analytical results. The Dust Division labs currently have six LTA plasma systems which were all manufactured by Anatech USA. Of those six systems only four are currently in operation. Two of the units are under repair. The laboratories need to maintain as many operating LTA systems that can be accommodated in the labs, which is six. Three of the four in operation are older generations that incorporate different manifold designs no longer used by the manufacturer. Most of the hardware from the older models can be used as spare parts on the newer SCE-604 models. Hardware such as flow controllers, vacuum gauges, and custom chambers can cost as much as $900 to $1000 for replacements. These units are located at USDOL - MSHA- 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. This action will result in a firm fixed price contract. The NAICS code for this requirement is 334516 with a size standard of 500 employees. This Notice of Inent to award a sole source contract is not a request for competitive proposals. There is no solicitation document. No RFP will be available for competitive proposals. Phone calls will not be accepted. The point of contact for this action is Purchasing Agent, Julie CLay, who can be reached at Clay.Julie@dol.gov. Please reference "Special Notice 1645-OTS-19-NAT-0166" in the subject line of any emails. Interested parties may express their interest and provide a capabilities statement NLT Monday, August 26, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. EST. A determination not to compete this proposed contract upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government..