National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div., Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

66 -- INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT SOL 53SBNB760122 DUE 051297 POC Romena R. Moy, Contract Specialist, (301) 975-4999, Joan E. Smith, Contracting Officer, (301) 975-6458 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) has a requirement for a Auto Hi-Res Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA). This equipment shall be compatible with all TA Instruments, Inc. controllers from Model 2000 and higher. Minimum specifications are as follows: (1) temperature range: Ambient to 1000 C; (2) balance accuracy: 0.1%; (3) sensitivity: 0.1 microgram; (4) ability to continuously measure weight loss of up to 1.0 gram; (5) sample sizes to 1.5 grams; (5) ability to use up to 500 microliter volume pans; (6) single thermocouple design with continuous use of the measured sample temperature to control the furnace; (7) isothermal temperature control of 0.1 C; (8) automatic loading and unloading of sample pan; (9) horizontal gas purge for excellent sample and purge gas interaction; (10) vertical balance design with automated furnace closing and experiment initiation in one keystroke; (11) automatic recording of initial sample weight; (12) automated taring; (13) ability to automatically open furnace at end of run and use compressed air/nitrogen cooling -- cooling from 1000 C to 50 C in 10 minutes or less; (14) ability to enter up to five points for temperature calibration; (15) has an autosampler that will analyze up to sixteen samples automatically with the ability to automatically tare selectively up to sixteen pans; (16) ability to continue a run when disconnected from the computer; (17) local control at the module including start/stop, furnace position, taring of an empty pan or taring automatically up to 16 pans, and real-time display of sample temperature and experiment status; (18) ability to store calibration constants in module memory; and (19) ability to store 512k of data in memory. Required heating/cooling specifications shall include (1) heating rate range 0.1 to 100 C/min.; (2) ability to store an "unlimited" number of different methods; and (3) ability to provide eighteen (18) different types of segments (commands) for writing heating rate methods to automate changing the heating rate, data collection rate, isothermals, and gases. A sampling of these eighteen segments include: (1) "Jump to ___ C" (Ballistic heat to a specified temperature and proceed to next segment); (2) "Equilibrate at ___ C " (Controlled heat to a specified temperature with no over-shoot, hold until stable and then proceed to next segment); (3) "Initial Temperature ___ C (Same as equilibrate but do not proceed to next segment until start key is depressed a second time and then proceed to next segment); (4) "Ramp ___ /min to ___ C " (Automatically turns on data collection, automatically reads the sample temperature and starts heating at the specified rate to the temperature specified) (This segment can be used as the first segment in a method so the test starts at whatever the TGA temperature is at or, this segment can follow a jump, equilibrate, or initial temperature segment); (4) "Isothermal for ___ min." (Isothermal hold that can follow any other segment with a maximum hold time of 100,000 min.) Controls to within 0.1 C of the specified temperature; (5) "Step ___ C/ ___ min. to ___ C" (Provides step heating to a specified temperature); (6) "Repeat Segment ___ for ___ times" (Provides a "go to" or "loop" command in the method to recycle certain segments or all the segments in that method for up to 9,999 times) (Useful for automated, accelerated aging studies that continue heat cycling of the material until separation or decomposition is detected); (7) "Sample Interval ___ sec" (Provides the ability to change the data collection rate between different types of segments like fast data collection rates for fast heating rates to ensure good resolution and slow data collection rates when changing to an isothermal where changes in weight loss occur more slowly. This is adjustable from 0.4 to 50 seconds per data point.); (8) "Select Gas: ___" (Provides the ability to change from gas one (1) to gas two (2) automatically. This is useful for accurate oxidative stability measurements); (9) "Data Storage: ___" (Provides the ability to turn data storage on or off between segments); (10) "Increment:____ C (Provides the ability to step the temperature and collect data); (11) "Abort Next Segment if weight % is > or < ___, weight %/minute is < or > ___"(permits either a change of weight or rate of weight change to control when additional segments occur); (12) "High Resolution Ramp ___ C/min, resolution ___ to ___ C" (Provides the ability to control the dynamic heating rate method so that a predetermined resolution between weight changes is obtained); and (13) "High Resolution Sensitivity ___"(Provides the ability to adjust the control sensitivity of the High Resolution Ramp). THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR BRAND NAME OR EQUAL COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is 53SBNB760122 and the solicitation is issued as a Request For Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 90-45. The standard industrial classification (SIC) code is 3826 and the small business size standard is 500 employees. The contract line item numbers (CLIN), items, quantities and units of measure are: CLIN 0001 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Auto Hi-Res Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer 2950 (Model No. 952250.902), 1 each; CLIN 0002 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal EGA Furnace for TGA 2950 (Model No. 952350.901), 1 each; CLIN 0003 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Gas Switching Accessory (GSA) (Model No. 992132.902), 1 each; CLIN 0004 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Calibrated Dual Flow Meter (Model No. 270134.002), 1 each; CLIN 0005 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Tape TGA Theory and Application NTSC (Model No. 700005.001), 1 each; CLIN 0006 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Thermal Solutions AutoAnalysis Program (Model No. 926151.901), 1 each; CLIN 0007 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Thermal Analyst 4200 with DOS and OS/2 WARP operating systems (Model No. 924200.901), 1 each; CLIN 0008 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal 20" Viewsonic Color Monitor; CLIN 0009 -- TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Thermal Solutions Accessory Kit for TA 4X00 Controllers (Model No. 926201.901), 1 each; CLIN 0010 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Computer Accessory Kit (Model No. 926402.901), 1 each; CLIN 0011 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Kit Calibration TGA Certified (Model No. 952384.901), 1 each; CLIN 0012 -- TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Thermocouple Sample (W22) (Model No. 952068.901), 3 each; CLIN 0013 -- TA Instruments, Inc. or equal TGA Sample Hang Down Wire (Model No. 952040.901), 3 each; CLIN 0014 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal TGA 500 Microliter Ceramic Sample Pans (Model No. 952018.910), 6 packages of 3; CLIN 0015 -- a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal Auto TGA 2950 Multiple Sample Tray Kit (Model No. 952240.901), 1 each; and a TA Instruments, Inc. or equal TS TGA Decomposition Kinetics Software (No Model Number), 1 each. The delivery schedule is required thirty (30) days after the date of purchase order award (FOB Destination -- Gaithersburg, MD). Commercial warranty, installation, calibration, and training shall be included in the quoted price. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation package: 52.212-1 "Evaluation -- Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial" and 52.212-2 "Evaluation -- Commercial Items". Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of the Provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (1) the technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government's requirement; (2) past performance; and (3) price; in descending order of importance. Technical evaluation factors are significantly more important than price. All offerors are to include with their offers a completed copy of Provision 52.212-3 "Offeror Representation and Certifications -- Commercial Items" (see NIST Contracts Home Page -- http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/repcert.htm). The following FAR clause applies to this acquisition: 52.212-4 "Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items". Additionally, the FAR clauses cited in Clause 52.212-5 are also applicable to this acquisition: 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 Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Vietnam Era"; 52.225-3 "Buy American Act -- Supplies"; 52.225-18 "European Community Sanctions for End Products"; 52.225-21 "Buy American Act -- North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act -- Balance of Payments Program". (0113)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0249 19970425\66-0004.SOL)