SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Request for Information: Portable Phthalate Analyzer
- Notice Date
- 5/13/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, Maryland, 20857, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-RFI_PSC152504
- Archive Date
- 6/13/2015
- Point of Contact
- Micah Kauzlarich,
- E-Mail Address
-
micah.kauzlarich@psc.hhs.gov
(micah.kauzlarich@psc.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a request for information ("RFI") only. The Government desires to ascertain an interest in and capability of developing and manufacturing a portable phthalate analyzer that provides rapid and accurate nondestructive screening of phthalates within plastics at concentrations of less than or equal to 0.1%. The RFI seeks to obtain information on the technical concepts and approaches of developing a prototype phthalate analyzer using an innovative approach that may incorporate new or pre-existing technology. The Government is interested in documentation of the technical and economic feasibility of substantially reducing the testing burden associated with conducting screening and analysis of toys and other children's articles made of plastic materials that may contain phthalates. Further, it seeks to obtain information about pricing, delivery, and other market information or capabilities for review and evaluation prior to issuing any formal solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information received. This announcement is not a request for proposals; therefore, responses to the RFI are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Based on the results of this RFI, if funding is available and the technology is deemed feasible, the Government may submit a follow-on announcement in FedBizOpps requesting formal proposals. Parties responding to this announcement must be registered in the System for Award Management ("SAM"). For more information, please visit the following website: https://www.sam.gov. When responding to this RFI, please clearly label all proprietary information and any other limitations on disclosure. Technical questions and suggestions should be addressed to the technical point of contact listed below. Specific questions are listed at the end of the document. Responses to this RFI are due by May 29, 2015. Send responses to Mr. Micah Kauzlarich, Micah.Kauzlarich@PSC.hhs.gov. A. INTRODUCTION: In 2008, the CPSIA amended several existing CPSA regulations and created new CPSA requirements for importers and manufacturers. Several of the new requirements are specifically for children's products, childcare articles, and children's toys. The CPSIA banned certain phthalates for use in children's toys and childcare articles (certain products for children three years old or younger). All children's toys and childcare articles must not contain the banned phthalates in concentrations that exceed 0.1% per phthalate. It is a Prohibited Act under the CPSA to manufacture for sale, sell, offer for sale, import, and/or distribute products in the United States that fail to comply with the applicable requirements. Phthalates are typically used in the production of many types of plastics. Currently, the existing technology used to analyze plastics for the content and type of phthalates present is time and labor intensive creating testing burdens on manufacturers, importers, and third party testing facilities. In order to reduce the time and labor resources needed to analyze children's products for phthalate content, a new portable phthalate analyzer that provides rapid and accurate nondestructive screening of phthalates within plastics, is needed. Portable phthalate analyzers would also be beneficial for manufacturers, importers, and retailers as well as for CPSC's field and import surveillance staff to screen products accurately for the presence of phthalates and quantify the amount of each specific phthalates in a product. B. REQUEST: The CPSC staff is interested in obtaining data, concepts, pricing, cost information, etc. pertaining to the development of a portable phthalate analyzer that is capable of detecting specific phthalates in a subject material at concentrations of less than or equal to 0.1%. The prototype phthalate analyzer is likely to use Fourier Transform Infrared ("FTIR") spectroscopy, but is not limited to this technology. C. PRELIMINARY PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS: 1. Able to identify the presence and quantify the amount of each of the following individual phthalates at concentrations less than or equal to 0.1% within the subject material: a. Dibutyl Phthalate, CAS No. 84-74-2 b. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, CAS No. 117-81-7 c. Benzyl Butyl Phthalate, CAS No. 85-68-7. d. Di-n-octyl phthalate, CAS No. 117-84-0. e. Diisononyl phthalate, CAS No. 28553-12-0/68515-48-0 f. Diisodecyl phthalate, CAS No. 26761-40-0/68515-49-1 g. Diisobutyl phthalate, CAS No. 84-69-5 h. Di-n-pentl phthalate, CAS No. 131-18-0 i. Di-n-hexyl phthalate, CAS No. 84-75-3 j. Dicyclohexyl phthalate, CAS No. 84-61-7 2. Able to detect the presence of additional phthalates in a variety of plastics. 3. Able to definitively determine that a sample does not contain more than 0.1% of an individual phthalate. 4. Capable of measuring phthalates in plastics without the need of any chemical preparation techniques such as digestion or extraction of the plastic material with solvents. 5. Compatible with standard 120-240 Volt single-phase AC wall power. 6. Capable of placement on a laboratory benchtop. 7. Able to complete both sample preparation and phthalate analysis of each sample within 15 minutes. 8. Ability to export data to a Windows PC or portable media in.CSV,.XLS, or other format compatible with Microsoft Office software. 9. Incorporate preprogrammed software modes that will accurately quantitate individual and total phthalates within plastic materials. 10. Designed with a means to calibrate the device using means and methods that are National Institute of Standards and Technology ("NIST") traceable. 11. Contain a user interface ("UI") incorporating a user mode that can display results in a format similar to "Pass/Fail/Uncertain" in regards to the presence of detectable levels of phthalates without requiring user interpretation. 12. Able to automatically compare results to a spectral database, and when possible, display the type of plastic and plasticizer (or other appropriate information). 13. Contain internal storage and allow the export of one or multiple spectra. D. REQUESTED INFORMATION 1. Describe the organization's experience in designing and manufacturing phthalate analyzers or other chemical testing equipment. 2. Based on an analysis of current technology and available equipment, what do you believe is required by way of resources to bridge the gap between what is currently available and the requirements listed above? 3. What is the average time frame from design to manufacturing of a phthalate analyzer or similar equipment? 4. What is the average cost of phthalate analyzers available within the consumer market? 5. What is the level of investment needed to modify current commercially available portable phthalate analyzers to satisfy the requirements above? 6. With an adequate investment, how long will it take to redesign and manufacturer a portable phthalate analyzer that satisfies the stated requirements? 7. What is the average cost of commercialization efforts for a manufactured portable phthalate analyzer? 8. What resources would be required to design, retrofit or manufacturer a portable phthalate analyzer that is able to operate under available, rechargeable battery backup for up to 8 hours. 9. How long will it take to commercialize the prototype? 10. What technologies would you incorporate to satisfy the requirements of the portable phthalate analyzer? 11. Are you aware of any small businesses engaged in the manufacture and sale of equipment capable of conducting phthalate analysis on a plastic material? E. SUBMISSIONS: The requested responses are for information and planning purposes only. CPSC does not intend to post information or questions received to any website or public access location. CPSC does not plan to reply to the individual responses, and respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Feedback to this RFI may be used in formulating a Governments acquisition strategy and documents. All responses should be provided electronically in Microsoft Word document format. Font should be Times New Roman, size 12. Responses should not exceed 15 pages and should reference the RFI number. This preliminary information is being made available for planning purposes only. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. Moreover, the Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI, nor will the Government reimburse an offeror for costs incurred to prepare responses to this RFI. No solicitation exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released later this fiscal year as currently planned, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
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