NIH, National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute, Procurement Section, Contracts Operations Branch, Westwood Building, Room 836, 5333 Westbard Avenue, BETHESDA MD 20892-9070

66 -- MALDI MASS SPECTROMETER SOL NHLBI-HL-P-95-101 POC Kathleen J. Van Steelant, Contract Specialist, (301) 594-7874. It is the intent of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to acquire a Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometer for installation in the Laboratory of Biochemistry in Bethesda, Maryland. The instrument must meet the following minimum specifications: 1) Since performance is critical in meeting the scientific requirements for the instrument, offerors must provide explicit information for each performance standard; 2) Using external standards, the mass accuracy must be at least q0.3% for a protein of about 50,000 mass units (e.g., glutamine synthetase). The precision (reproducibility) on such proteins must be better than q0.1%. This value refers to the coefficient of variation, that is, the standard deviation as a percentage of the mean; 3) The mass detection range must extend to at least 300,000 mass units for proteins. The monomer and dimer of alpha-2-macroglobulin may be used to demonstrate this capability; 4) Again using external standards, the mass accuracy must be at least q0.1% for a peptide of about 6,000 mass units (e.g., insulin). The precision (reproducibility) on such peptides must be better than q0.1%. This value refers to the coefficient of variation, that is, the standard deviation as a percentage of the mean; 5) Mass resolution must be better than 10% of the peptide's mass for a peptide of about 6,000 mass units (e.g. insulin). This is measured as the peak width at half-maximum; 6) The sensitivity must yield a signal:noise ratio of at least 100 for 50 femtomoles of a peptide of about 6,000 mass units (e.g., insulin); 7) The instrument must be capable of detecting low molecular weight molecules such as dipeptides in a matrix containing salts and buffers such as Tris. This may require a specific mechanism for suppression of matrix ions, e.g., a low mass filter; 8) The instrument must be capable of operating in both positive and negative ion modes and calibration must be provided for in both modes. Switching from one mode to the other must be under software control so that the switch can be accomplished during unattended, automated runs; 9) The instrument must be controlled by a PC-type computer with programs run under Windows version 3.1 or higher. The software must not be copy protected and there must not be a hardware key (e.g., a ''dongle''); 10) The instrument must be capable of unattended, automated data acquisition and analysis of at least 10 samples, after they have been applied to the target; 11) The instrument must provide a mechanism for sample deposition which results in even distribution across the probe surface. Automatic operation must include the ability to scan at least 25 discrete regions of each sample target and then select the optimum region for data accumulation according to criteria of applied laser power and of signal:noise ratio in the spectrum; 12) During automatic data acquisition, the instrument must be capable of evaluating each shot and accepting or rejecting the spectrum according to criteria set by the operator. These criteria must include minimum and maximum signal:noise ratio; 13) The instrument must be accessible and controllable through remote access, either by modem or network connection; 14) The instrument must be easily operated by multiple investigators, generally at the immediate postdoctoral level without experience in mass spectrometry; and 15) The offeror must provide an individual who is capable of delivering technical advice and assistance to the members of the Laboratory of Biochemistry within normal business hours. The technical advice and assistance must be provided within twenty four (24) hours of the telephone call from the Government's Project Officer. The offeror shall provide training on the instrument for two (2) operators who will be designated by the NHLBI Project Officer. A firm fixed-price type contract will be negotiated. Delivery and installation of the instrument is anticipated within sixty (60) calendar days after the contract award. Only a fully installed and functional instrument will be accepted. Tests will be performed to ascertain that the instrument is functional before final acceptance. It is anticipated that Request for Proposal (RFP) NHLBI-HL-P-95-101 will be issued on or about February 1, 1995. Copies of the RFP may be obtained by writing to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, Procurement Section, Westwood Building, Room 836, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, Attention: Kathleen J. Van Steelant, Contract Specialist. (0023)

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