Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometer (ICP‐MS)

Contracting Office Address

Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific West Area Administrative Office, Acquisition, Personal Property & Fleet Section, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710

Description

The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is conducting market research to support Western Human Nutrition Research Center for a Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometer (ICP‐MS) and must compatible with existing Elemental Scientific Inc. Auto sampler Model SC-4DXS.
 

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information.  North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition, 334516. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

The government is seeking capability statements from businesses capable of meeting the below minimum specification requirements:

Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometer (ICP‐MS) instrument:

NexION 2000 ICP-MS (Brand name or Equal)

• SMARTintroTM high-throughput/high-matrix sample-introduction module with a FAST valve and integrated All Matrix Solution for faster samples uptake and washout as well as the ability to handle high dissolved solids
  • High matrix with AMS – using argon for greater than 100x dilutions to minimize matrix suppression and reduce deposition on cones when running samples with high total dissolved solids
  • High throughput/high matrix with AMS and SC-FAST – double or triple samples throughput with no loss of detection limits
  • High purity with SilQ quartz or HF resistance – two sample introduction solution for the ultimate detection limits
  • Can handle high concentrations of DMSO, a reagent used in cell culture research, which is also expected to be anlayzed
  • Extended dynamic range capabilities to detect high- and low-level elements in a single run (ppq detection limits; sub-ppt levels for critical elements, e.g. Na, K, Ca, Fe)
  • Best-in-class nanoparticle detection capabilities
• 3 quadrupoles, 3 gas channels, and 3 modes (standard, collision, reaction) of operation for better interference removal, delivering better detection limits and improved data accuracy
• The industry’s fastest data acquisition speed on the market (100,000 point/sec) to handle any particle size, 10x faster than competitive systems
• The lowest maintenance requirements for any ACP-MS:
  • A new solid-state RF generator with LumiCoilTM technology – first ICP-MS RF coil that requires no maintenance or cooling
  • Triple cone interface with quadrupole ion deflector, delivering no maintenance beyond the cones
• SyngistixTM software
  • provides intuitive interface that mirrors the workflow, with left-to-right, icon-based navigation that guides you through your analysis.
  • Cross-platform solution, easing the transition from technique to technique (AA, ICP, or ICP-MS)
  • Built-in RadianTM remote monitoring service with Syngistix for ICP-MS software v 2.3 or higher – provides real-time monitoring of your system’s diagnostic parameters, enhancing laboratory productivity
• The NexION 2000 ICP-MS is the most robust and versatile instrument on the market – triple quad power meets single quad versatility (best of both combined)
• Any sample matrix, any interference, any particle size can be handled by this instrument
• Small footprint: W32 x D27 x H29.5 inches
   
• Specifications:

Detection limits:

Element                                Detection Limits ng/L = ppt

9Be                                       < 0.5

56Fe                                     < 1.5 (reaction mode with ammonia)

59Co                                   < 0.5

115In                                   < 0.25

238U                                   < 0.25

Sensitivity:

Element                              Sensitivity Mcps/mg/L

9Be                                     > 6

115In                                   > 100

238U                                   > 80

Oxide and Doubly-charged species:

CeO+/Ce+                          < 0.025

Ce++/Ce+                           < 0.03

Background Signal, Mass 220           < 1 cps

Short-term precision                          < 3 % RSD

Long-term stability                             < 4 % RSD over 4 hours

Isotope-ratio precision                       < 0.8 % RSD (or within  factor of 2 of the counting statistics limit)

Mass calibration stability                   < 0.05 amu over 8 hours continuous operation

Quadrupole peak hop (slew) speed   1.6M amu/sec

Quadrupole scan speed                     1-285 amu

Abundance sensitivity, measured at 238U       Better than 1.0x106 at low mass side of peak

                                                                         Better than 1.0x107 at high mass side of peak

Detector linear range                           < 0.1 cps to > 109 cps = over 10 orders of magnitude of linear dynamic range in a single continuous scan

Transient data acquisition speed         > 3000 temporal data points/sec maximum

Respondents shall furnish sufficient technical information necessary for the Government to conclusively determine that they are capable of meeting the technical requirements identified above. Firms believing they can meet the requirements are encouraged to respond electronically with no less than the following information:
• Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number, and email address;
• Sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates that offered equipment will meet or exceed above specifications;
• Descriptive material necessary for the government to determine whether the service offered meets the technical requirements;
 

Interested Parties must respond with capability statements by email to jeffery.ridenour@usda.gov on or before May 7, 2020 at 3:00 PM Central Standard Time.

Personal visits for the purpose of discussing this requirement are strongly discouraged and will NOT be scheduled. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. The government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in beta.SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Point of Contact

Mr. Jeffery Ridenour, Contract Specialist, 2413 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY. 42101; Phone 309-363-5914; Email: jeffery.ridenour@usda.gov.

Place of Performance

USDA ARS PWA WHNRC

430 West Health Sciences Drive

One Shields Avenue, UC Davis

Davis, CA. 95616