USDA, ARS, Pacific West Area, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, California 94710

66 -- MASS SPECTROMETER SOL RFP No. 31-91H2-96 DUE 091296. Contact Rita Abeyta, 510/559-6019, FAX 510/559-6023, Contract Specialist. (I) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Any amendments to this solicitation will be placed only in the CBD. (ii) Solicitation 31-91H2-96 is being issued as a Request for Proposal. (iii) The solicitation document applies and incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 90-38. (iv) This procurement is open to all responsible sources. The SIC code is 3826 and the Size Standard is 500 employees. (v) The following is a list of contract line items number (CLIN), quantities and units: CLIN 01 Micromass ISO-EA fully automated isotope ratio analyzer (mass spectrometer) or equal with an interface for a Fisons NA1500 Series 2 elemental analyzer for the measurement of 13C and 15N content in CO2 and N2 under continuous flow conditions - Quantity - 1 each. The following are optional accessory equipment: CLIN 02 Micromass, part No. 4004247, or equal, dilutor for sequential measurement of carbon and nitrogen in the same sample and the same run where the C:N ratio exceeds 10 - Quantity - 1 each; CLIN 03 Micromass, Part No. 4003957, or equal, reference gas injection system - Quantity - 1 each. (vi) Essential specifications for a continuos flow mass spectrometer for carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis are as follows: The mass spectrometer system must be complete and provide an interface to an existing Carlo Erba NA 1500 Series 2 carbon-complete and provide an interface to an existing Carlo Erba NA1500 Series 2 carbon--nitrogen analyzer. The system must use turbo molecular pumping to produce an operating pressure in the 10E-6 mbar range. The sensitivity of the system at least 1 in 1100 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the pressure stated above, under helium flow. The Faraday ion collector in the system must be capable of sequential collection of CO2 (masses 44 45, 46) for delta 13C and N2 (masses 28, 29, 30) for delta 15N determination, in the same sample, in the same run. Carbon and nitrogen must be acquired under identical acceleration and ion source potentials (this implies magnet jumping rather than voltage jumping). The ion collector assembly used must have matched Faraday amplified response times. The data system used to control the mass spectrometer must control and store all ion source and magnetic sector parameters. The data system must use an industry standard 32 bit operating system with real multitasking such as OS/2 or UNIX running on an Intel-Pentium based computer or better. There must be background and bank subtraction routines in the system software. The software must include statistical calculations. The standard deviation (SD) calculations must define the SD with a formula. The SD calculation must state the number of samples to run in the calculation of the SD. Further, there is to be no rejection of outliers in the calculation of the SD. An option reference gas injection system should be available for the system that uses a continuous gas stream. C:N ratios greater that 8 require an in-line dilutor. An optional dilutor with a scaled continuous flow path should be available. (vii) All items shall be delivered FOB destination to the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, 4331 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040-8832, on or before 120 calendar days from the date of contract award. Inspection and acceptance shall be performed at the Phoenix laboratory. (viii) The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Evaluation-Instructions to Offerors-Commercial and 52.212-2. Evaluation-Commercial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (A) technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government's requirements; (B) past performance of the offeror; and (C) price; in descending order of importance. Technical and past performance, when combined are significantly more important than price. All offerors are to include with their offer a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications. (Copies of FAR 52.212-2 and 52.212-3 are available upon request from the Contracting Officer. (ix) The following FAR clause applies to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items. (x) The following additional FAR clauses, which are cited in clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders, are applicable to this acquisition: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government; 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity; 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Records on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.225-9, Buy American Act-Trade Agreements-Balance of Payments Program. (xi) Funds are not presently available for this procurement; therefore, FAR clause 52.232-18, Availability of Funds Clause is applicable to all CLIN's individually and in total. (xii) Offerors shall agree to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers. All offers shall be sent to the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Attn: Rita Abeyta, 800 Buchanan Street, Room 2014, Albany, CA 94710. Faxed offers will not be accepted. All offers are due by 4:00 pm, local time, Albany, CA on September 12, 1996. (xiii) Numbered Note 12 applies. (232)

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