USDA, ARS, North Atlantic Area; 600 East Mermaid Lane; Philadelphia, PA 19118

66 -- WHEATSTONE BRIDGE 4 CAPILLARY DIFFERENTIAL VISCOSITY (DV)/ DIFFERENTIAL REFRACTIVE INDEX (DRI) POC Frank W. Boyer, Purchasing Agent, (215) 233-6552. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, intends to negotiate solely with VISCOTEK for a Differential Viscometer/Differential Refractometer. The instrument will be used in the characterization of biopolymers extracted from plant, animal and microbial matrices. The dual Detectors (in combination) are required to satisfy the following criteria. Viscosity detector must be of the four capillary differential Wheatstone bridge configuration so that the measurement of differential pressure drop is insensitive to flow rate fluctuation without pulse dampening, Detection limit 1 x 10(-5) specific viscosity, Linearity 0.5%FS, Shear rate 3000 sec(-1), capillary dimension 0.01'' id x 24''L, Output Voltage 1V, Cell volume 50 ul, Temperature range 30-50 degrees. The Refractive Index Detector must have a Detection Limit 1 x 10(-8) differential refractive index, Linearity 0.25%FS, Shear rate 3000 sec(-1), Wavelength of laser light source 633 nm, Output Voltage 1V, Cell volume 8 ul, temperature range 30-50 degrees, True zero glass for absolute for zero referencing. Both Detectors must be contained in a single insulated compartment with temperature control up to 50 degrees to assure that the reference solvent and the sample are the same temperature, reducing baseline drift and noise, Electrical Power 115V 50-60 Hz 30VA, Dimensions 17''Wx5''Hx16''d, Weight 25 lbs. Equipment must be delivered within 60 days, FOB destination Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. Companies with the demonstrated ability to provide this equipment must submit within 15 days of this notice a written substantive statement completely defining the equipment offered and descriptive literature to the attention of the Purchasing Agent at the address above. This is not a request for proposals; no solicitation is available. (0223)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0266 19950814\66-0004.SOL)