Polypropylene Membrane Disc Filters

I. INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE

The Mine Safety & Health Administration is issuing this Sources Sought Notice - Request for Information for information to improve its understanding of the market and identify qualified vendors capable of providing a large order of polypropylene membrane disc filters having a 0.45 micron pore size and cut to a custom diameter of 19 millimeters.

II. BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is responsible for enforcing health standards promulgated under the authority of Section 103 (a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. A national network of MSHA inspectors collects health samples at approximately 880 coal mines located in the United States and its territories to monitor miners' exposures to hazardous contaminants. Coal mine respirable dust samples are analyzed for quartz by using a validated Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analytical method and citations are issued to mine operators if exposure limits are exceeded. Approximately 15,000+ sample and quality assurance analyses are performed each year on coal mine dust samples by the MSHA Technical Support Lab.
III. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this notice is to conduct a market survey to determine if there are vendors capable of providing a fairly large order of polypropylene membrane filter discs with a 19 millimeter diameter and 0.45 micron pore size. Vendors responding to this notice will be given additional information about what is involved in the process to become an approved supplier and point of contact information to begin the process.

IV. SPECIFICATIONS:

Specifications: Polypropylene membrane disc filter.
• Custom cut 19 millimeter diameter filter membrane
• 0.45 micron pore size
• Hydrophilic polypropylene
• Typical thickness of 114 µm (4.5 mils)
V. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. The following information is to be provided in response to this Request for Information:
a. Vendor's name
b. Vendor's address
c. Point of contact name, telephone number, and e-mail address
d. DUNS number
e. Identification of business size (small business, small disadvantaged, Small Woman-Owned Business, Small Veteran-Owned Business, Small Disabled Veteran-Owned Business, Small/Disadvantaged Business SBA 8(a) Program, HUB-Zone small business);
f. Capability to provide the services mentioned above
2. Responses must be submitted in writing according to the requirements outlined in this document and received via e-mail by Rhonda Sizemore at sizemore.rhonda@dol.gov no later than 3:00 p.m. EST on May 4, 2018. Late responses may not be considered or evaluated.
VI. AGENCY POINT OF CONTACT
Rhonda Sizemore
Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer
1301 Airport Road
Beaver, West Virginia 25813
Sizemore.Rhonda@dol.gov
Office Phone: (304)256-3538
VII. OTHER INFORMATION
All interested and qualified businesses are encouraged to respond to this notice in accordance with the instructions found herein. Responding to this RFI does not guarantee an award of a contract nor does the Government guarantee that a solicitation will be issued as a result of the RFI. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this request or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this request. This request is issued only to locate vendors capable of providing the services mentioned above. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted, or competition-sensitive information contained in their response.

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