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

B -- MEASUREMENT OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN NATURAL MATRIX STANDARDS SOL 53SBNB860049 DUE 060498 POC Kathleen Lettofsky, (301) 975-6342 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 and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis under the authority of 41 USC 253(c)(1) with Dr. Leticia Pibida, 921 Beacon Square Court, Gaithersburg, MD, to measure the trace element cesium-137 in the NIST natural matrix sediment SRM by means of glow discharge resonance ionization mass spectrometry (GDRIMS) using the NIST machine and its base techniques. The service needed by NIST is available from only one responsible source and no other supplier of such services will satisfy the needs of the Agency, because Dr. Pibida is the sole person who has familiarity with the combined NIST glow discharge source, the NIST TiSapph laser system and the magnetic sector mass spectrometry system, which is necessary to provide this service. The personnel qualification must meet or exceed that of Dr. Pibida's, which include: 1. Having a doctorate in the field of radioactivity; 2. At least five years experience in mass spectrometry applications in radiochemistry; and 3. At least three months experience constructing, modifying and testing resonance ionization mass spectrometer. The tasks to be performed are as follows: 1) Establish peak analysis routine for analyzing mass spectra; 2) Perform quantitative GDMS measure on tin isotopes; 3) develop stable cesium source on thermal filament; 4) Perform thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) on stable cesium; 5) Activate TiSapph laser to interrogate cesium; 6) Perform GDRIMS on cesium with TIMS; 7) Modify glow discharge source to accept cesium samples; 8) Develop computer program for handling GDRIMS data; 9) Develop computer routine for sweeping through TiSapph frequencies; 10) Analyze routines in previous tasks 8) and 9); 11) Redesign glow discharge source to accept new samples; 12) Develop sample fabrication methodology; 13) Produce trace level cesium samples in glow discharge source; 14) Perform quantitative measurements using GDRIMS on cesium samples; 15) Produce river sediment glow discharge samples; and 16) Perform GDRIMS in cesium in river sedimen; and 17) Tasks 1) through 16) must be performed at NIST using the NIST instruments. The period of performance for this service will be from July 1, 1998 through January 12, 2000. A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to Dr. Leticia Pibida. The anticipated award date is June 18, 1998. Numbered Note 26 applies. (0106)

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