Purchase of Ion Chromatography System

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

Purchase Ion Chromatography System

(I)        This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only synopsis/solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(II)       This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).  Submit written quotes on RFQ Number PMEL-20-01221

(III)     The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-03.

(IV)     This solicitation is being issued with a total small business Set-aside. The associated NAICS code is 334516 and the PSC code is PSC H166. 

(V)       This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial items:

Qty:1 System per Specs and Statement of Need.

(VI)     Description of requirements is as follows:

Per attached specification.

(VII)    Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance 08/01/2021 Shipping will be FOB Destination, NOAA / PMEL 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg 3. Seattle, WA 98115-6349.

(VIII)  Questions must be emailed to the attention of Ben Carlson, this is also where quotes should be sent.  The email address is Ben.Carlson@noaa.gov , 206-526-4321.

THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS AND ATTACHED CLAUSES APPLY TO THIS ACQUISITION

FAR 52.204-7 System for Award Management

FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. 

 FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items

FAR 52.203-18 Prohibition of Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements—Representation

FAR 52.225-2 -- Buy American Certificate.

As prescribed in 25.1101(a)(2), insert the following provision:

Buy American Certificate (May 2014)

(a) The offeror certifies that each end product, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this provision, is a domestic end product and that for other than COTS items, the offeror has considered components of unknown origin to have been mined, produced, or manufactured outside the United States. The offeror shall list as foreign end products those end products manufactured in the United States that do not qualify as domestic end products, i.e., an end product that is not a COTS item and does not meet the component test in paragraph (2) of the definition of “domestic end product.” The terms “commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item,” “component,” “domestic end product,” “end product,” “foreign end product,” and “United States” are defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled “Buy American—Supplies.”

(b) Foreign End Products:

Line Item No.:

Country of Origin:

CAR 1330-52.222-70 Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response Policy

CAR 1352.201-70 Contracting Officer’s Authority

CAR 1352.209-73 Compliance with the Laws

CAR 1352.209-74 Organizational Conflict of Interest

CAR 1352.215-72 Inquiries

CAR 1352.233-70 Agency Protests

CAR 1352.233-71 GAO and Court of Federal Claims Protests
CAR 1352.237-71 Security Processing Requirements - Low Risk Contracts

CAR 1352.246-70 Place of Acceptance
 

PURPOSE: Purchase a new ion chromatography system.

SCOPE OR MISSION: This instrument is needed to acquire data that supports the long-term air monitoring facility in Barrow, Alaska, and is also used for data acquisition in other field campaigns for the atmospheric chemistry group at PMEL.

BACKGROUND: Our current IC system was purchased in 2004 and the company stopped production of replacement parts and service in 2014. We can no longer get the support, replacement parts, or service for the system and it has been frequently out of service in the past 2 years due to failed parts that can no longer be replaced.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Ion Chromatograph system, including autosampler(s), degasser, columns, carbonate suppression system, conductivity detectors, and software for managing instrumentation and rapid analysis of chromatograms for anions and cations.

2. Requirement: All components necessary for dual detection of ion concentrations of Anions [acetate, formate, methane sulfonic acid, chloride, bromide, nitrate, sulfate, oxalate] and Cations [sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, calcium] simultaneously

3. Requirement: Automated sampling system

a. sample volume 1-1000ul

b. sample delivery via syringe

c. injection methods needed: multiple loop size injection options for samples that fall outside of standard curve (i.e. full loop/partial loop injection)

d. Sample analysis: At least 90 samples can be loaded at once for concurrent/parallel anion/cation determination

e. Connection to PC via USB or RS-232

f. Compatible with 0.3/0.7 polypropylene vials or microtiter plates

4. Requirement: Concentration range of detection for all ions: 10ppb to 10ppm; must be able to handle sample matrix of water:methanol in 5:1 ratio as well as diluted seawater matrix.

5. Requirement: Columns: Vendor to provide 1 setup column plus one spare column each for cations and anions (4 columns total) plus 2 sets of appropriately matched guard columns each for cations and anions

a. Requirement: Analysis time: <=30 minutes for anions, <=15 minutes for cations

b. Required precision:<10% RSD

6. Requirement: Eluent must have flexibility to be prepared by user from commonly available lab chemicals (non-proprietary); 2 or 4 liter eluent vessels included for user generated eluent.

7. Requirement: Suppression system for anion determination without interference by carbonate (May be chemical + carbonate suppression)

a. Suppressor regeneration from non-proprietary chemicals/consumables

b. 10 year suppressor warranty

8. Requirement: Software:

a. Automated peak detection and quantification based on standard curve

b. Chromatogram overlay capability

c. Standard curve comparison analysis (to monitor for drift)

9. Eluent Degassing capability (either with inline or supplied degasser)

10. Ability to operate on a moving platform: can handle motion and temperature/pressure (15-30C) fluctuations commonly found at sea.

11. Requirement: System can be shut down, transported, and restarted on a semi-annual basis without major impact to performance or start up costs due to being unused for a prolonged period (>1 month)

12. Heated and thermostatic conductivity cell which permits conductivity measurements unaffected by temperature variations for improved reproducibility

13. 10 year guarantee of available replacement parts for entire system.

14. Installation by qualified service technician includes delivery of system, complete setup, including multiple standard curve runs with accuracy and precision of system verified by standards and multiple injections with adequate software familiarization of PMEL technician that instrument can be operated independently upon departure.

a. Installer should inform the PMEL technician of the required preventative maintenance for weekly, monthly and annual intervals for optimal performance.

15. IC should have automated regeneration of suppressor, and inert, non metallic components such as peek throughout system for solvent compatibility.

16. Vendor to include consumables for the analysis of at least 1000 samples (sample vials and standards).

DELIVERY SCHEDULE: Request delivery by August 1st, 2021

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: must be able to analyze organic acids in addition to standard anions and cations.