Ultra Low Background Gamma Shield

1. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.
    
2. The solicitation number is FDA-RFQ-24Q1275885. This requirement is issued as Request for Quote (RFQ).
   
   The solicitation is issued as a Full and Open competition.
    
3. The solicitation documented and incorporated provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) FAC-2024-05, Effective 05/22/2024.
    
4. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 3399999 with a small business size standard of 550 employees.
    
5. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) intends to issue a Commercial Item Firm Fixed-Price purchase order that meets the requirements herein.  

 Background

The Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC) is the sole federal laboratory performing the analysis of radioactivity in food products.  WEAC relies on gamma spectrometry to screen and analyze foods for contamination.  The detector system includes a detector, electronics, cooling, and shielding.  The shielding increases sensitivity of the detector by reducing background noise caused by natural radiation emitting isotopes. This project will result in the purchase of an ultra-low background gamma shield for a high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma detector with a U-style cryostat.

OBJECTIVE

This acquisition is aimed at obtaining one ultra-low background gamma shield for a high purity germanium gamma detector with a U-Style cryostat.  The ultra-low background gamma shield will effectively shield a U-style cryostat HPGe Detector from background radiation. 

REQUIREMENTS

The contractor shall provide the minimum requirements under this contract:

• The contractor shall provide one (1) ultra-low background gamma shield.  The ultra-low background gamma shield shall satisfy the performance criteria listed below: Shall be newly manufactured unit, not used and refurbished or previously used for demonstration.

• Shall be compatible with vertical or U-style cryostat HPGe Detectors.

• Shall be made of low background lead approximately 6 inches thick.

• Shall have a graded (tin/copper) liner to stop the leak K-shell x-rays.

• Shall be equipped with a gas port to purge the sample chamber with inert gas.

• Shall have a swing top door for access to the detector chamber.

• Shall have a support table for the shield and a cryostat stand to support the detector’s cryostat (dewar or liquid nitrogen recycler).

• Shall be warranted for one year after delivery and shall include at a minimum: coverage on all non-consumable items and parts supplied including base instrument.

INSPECTION/ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Inspection and acceptance shall be in accordance with the base clause 52.212-4(a). Contracting officer’s representative (COR) is responsible for the inspection and acceptance of the deliverables for this requirement.

CONTRACT TYPE

This is firm fixed price.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE                                                           

The period of performance (POP) is 30 days from award.

PLACE OF DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE

U. S. FDA Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center

Attn: POC to be identified at time of award.

109 Holton Street

Winchester, MA 01890

POC: POC to be identified at time of the award.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Work/Deliveries shall typically be performed/delivered during normal business hours (typically between 8AM and 5PM Eastern) Mondays through Fridays. 

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS

The Government will not require support for the Federal Holidays listed below. Specific dates can be found on https://www.opm.gov/.

• New Year's Day
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Washington’s Birthday
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

GOVERNMENT CLOSURES

Government operating statuses for offices nationwide can be found on https://www.opm.gov/.

Aside from Federal holidays, the contractor shall contact the COR or Contracting Officer to determine work status in the event of Government closures. If a contractor staff has been approved to work at an alternate work site, the Government anticipates that the contractor staff will continue to perform their tasks as assigned at the order level.

In the event of inclement weather, contractor staff that work on-site at a Federal facility shall be responsible for checking the operating status. If the facility is closed and the contractor staff is telework ready, the contractor staff may be required to work at the direction of the COR or CO.

 GOVERNMENT POINTS OF CONTACT
 

Contract Specialist

Warren Jackson

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services

4041 Powder Mill Road, STE 400

Beltsville, MD 20705

Phone: 301-796-7376

Email: warren.jackson@fda.hhs.gov

Contracting Officer’s Representative/Technical Point of Contact (TPOC)

To be determine after award.