SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Testing of Collector Systems - Vendor Agreement
- Notice Date
- 11/9/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Washington, District of Columbia, 20528, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20528
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-AH1
- Archive Date
- 12/30/2009
- Point of Contact
- Janet Herman, Phone: 202-254-6918
- E-Mail Address
-
janet.herman@dhs.gov
(janet.herman@dhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Vendor Agreement Request for Information (RFI) Testing of Collector Systems to maintain Biological Agent Viability 1. Reference Number: DHSSTCHEMBIO2009RFIAH1 2. Response Due Date: 30 November 2009, 1700 E.S.T. to rfi-ah1@hq.dhs.gov 3. Synopsis: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate is seeking mature aerosol collection systems to participate in a laboratory test to: (1) determine collection system efficiency over a range of particle sizes, and (2) quantify the ability of the system to maintain the viability of collected biological materials. This is NOT a Request for Quotation. Any information submitted by respondents to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. Selection of respondents for participation in the laboratory test will be based on review and assessment of the response submission and how well the material meets the specified requirements, as well as on aerosol chamber capacity and testing team resources. The review and assessment will be performed by DHS federal and contractor support personnel. All contractor support personnel shall be bound by non-disclosure agreements. 4. Background: The Chemical and Biological Research & Development Branch within DHS S&T Directorate needs to continuously collect viable aerosol samples from the environment to support the mission of comprehensive analysis of bio-terrorism attacks. These viable aerosol samples will be analyzed in the laboratory for antibiotic resistance and susceptibility determinations, along with other functional tests, to augment the existing DHS Office of Health Affairs (OHA) BioWatch program detection capabilities. To support the collector system development effort initiated under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 09-08 (see https://baa.st.dhs.gov for reference), DHS S&T is developing a test bed and series of protocols to measure aerosol collector system efficiency and viability metrics for collected biological materials. As part of this effort, DHS S&T will host a test opportunity for mature aerosol collection technologies using this new test plan and set of protocols. This test will provide DHS S&T with an assessment of the capabilities of mature aerosol collection systems, as well as an assessment of the test procedures. To participate in this aerosol collector system test opportunity, DHS S&T is requesting responses to this RFI for systems which meet the requirements listed in Section 6 below. 5. Testing Opportunity: The test will be held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus in Laurel, Maryland, and is anticipated to occur in February 2010 over two weeks (8 working days). The systems will be tested using the Dynamic Continuous Aerosol Generator (DyCAG) in a BSL-2 aerosol chamber environment. Collector systems will be exposed to: 1. Fluorescent polystyrene spheres ranging in size from 0.5 - 8 µm diameter. 2. Biological materials representing spore, vegetative cell, and viral threats. These materials will be presented as aerosol particles with a number mean diameter of between 2 and 8 microns, and the initial viable fraction of the disseminated material will be determined. Data will be analyzed to determine: 1. Collector efficiency as a function of particle size. 2. Viability of biological material eluted from the collector system. Collected samples will be stored and maintained on-board the collector system until eluted. Analysis of viability will be performed immediately after collection, as well as 2 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after collection. Participants in the test will be responsible for: 1. All equipment, personnel, transportation and consumable costs for the operation of their system throughout the test. 2. Protocols for extracting viable samples off the collection system must be delivered to the testing team at least 30 days prior to the start of the testing period. Any proprietary procedures or materials necessary for the sample extraction must be supplied to the testing team. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO TEST PARTICIPANTS. DHS S&T will ONLY provide: 1. Access to the testing facility during the specified test period. 2. Challenge materials used during the test. Additional details of the tests will be provided to selected systems developers prior to entry into the test chamber. Due to security restrictions, foreign nationals are not permitted in the JHU/APL Biological and Aerosol labs. All contractor personnel to support the test on-site at JHU/APL should be U.S. citizens with appropriate identification. In addition, before participating in the test, system developers shall be required to sign a vendor agreement (see attached). Following the test, DHS S&T will provide the independent laboratory data to collector system developers on the performance of their system. Participation in this test does not guarantee further participation by the system developer in the development of a technology solution for DHS S&T for viable bioaerosol collection systems, nor does non-participation in the test preclude further participation in the development of a technology solution. 6. Collector System Requirements/Technical Specifications: In order to be considered for participation in this test, the aerosol collector system must meet the following requirements: 1. Maximum system footprint: 36"x48" 2. Available Power: 110 or 220, 30A, multiple circuits 3. Maximum system flow rate: 1000 lpm 4. TRL: 7 or greater 5. Autonomous collection and storage of samples for at least 2 days on the collection system. 6. Elution of collected samples into a storage container which has demonstrated a reasonable expectation of maintaining the viability of spore, vegetative cells and viruses for several days. 7. Response Submission Guidelines: Responses shall be no more than 10 single-sided pages on 8.5x11" paper. Responses should be sent as.doc or.pdf files, with a maximum size of 10 MB, to RFI-AH1@hq.dhs.gov by the due date listed in Section 2 above. Although input from industry is desired, late responses may not be considered, due to the processing activity required of the Government. Responses to this RFI must include: 1. Collector system description of operation, including the sample storage mechanism. 2. System size, weight and power specifications 3. Performance data from the collection system, including tests and data analysis for the viability of biological materials collected on the system. Discussion of test date should include: a. the venue where the test occurred b. description of the test apparatus and procedures, including referee equipment c. description of the challenge materials used in the test d. statistical analysis of the data 4. Description of the procedures for eluting viable samples from the collector 5. Current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) with specific justification for the level assigned 6. Technical Point of Contact This is not a Request for Quotation. Any information submitted by respondents to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. This Sources Sought Synopsis is in support of market research. Selection of participating systems will be based on review and assessment of the response submission and how well the system meets the specified requirements, as well as on aerosol chamber capacity and testing team resources.
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