U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

66 -- MULTIPARAMETER WATER QUALITY DATA SONDES AND CALIBRATION CABLE (DRY USE ONLY) SOL MK0187 DUE 062498 POC Phyllis Roberts, Contracting Officer, (919) 541-3564 or Barbara Stearrett, Team Leader, (919) 541-3113 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via, roberts.phyllis@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory/Western Ecology Division, Corvallis, Oregon, intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Endeco/YSI c/o Whitney Equipment Company, 14636 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA 98052, for the purchase of two (each) Multiparameter Water Quality Data Sondes and six (each) of YSI Model 6920 Data Sondes, and one each 10 ft. calibration cable (dry use only). This equipment will be used to analyze environmental samples, primarily water samples from rivers, streams, lakes and groundwater aquifers. Results of these analyses will be used to create and interpret scientific information and will be published in peer literature. The EPA believes Endeco/YSI c/o Whitney Equipment Company is the only source capable of meeting our needs for the following reasons: The equipment must be compatible with existing EPA equipment. It is critical to EPA data interpretation that all measurements are comparable because EPA will be comparing measurements from different locations and attempting to understand ecological processes based on these comparisons. Each data sonde requires additional hardware, such as cables to communicate with the sonde for calibrating and downloading data. Both the Model 6920 and Model 600 XLM data sondes use the same peripheral equipment as the units already in use by the EPA. Salient characteristics of the equipment are as follows: Model 600XLM includes 2 inch or less external diameter, with internal battery compartment, data logging and storage capabilities, field-replaceable probes for temperature, conductivity, low ionic-strength pH, and dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen probe must utilize rapid-pulse technology to eliminate the need for stirring. Specific conductance and dissolved oxygen percent saturation are available as calculated outputs. Includes bulkhead connector to attach field cable. RS232 and SDI-12 communication capabilities, probe guard, and transport and calibration cup. Model 6920 includes internal battery compartment using size AA bateries, data logging and storage capabilities, field-replaceable probes for temperature, conductivity, low ionic-strength pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. The dissolved oxygen probe must utilize rapid-pulse technology to eliminate the need for stirring. It is essential that the turbidity probe contain an automatic wiper to prevent fouling during long-term deployments. Specific conductance and dissolved oxygen percent saturation are available as calculated outputs. The new data sondes will be used together with the data sondes previously purchased for studies of off-channel habitat on the Willamette River. The rapid-pulse system for DO measurements provides very stable DO readings for long-term unattended monitoring. All interested parties must respond within 15 days of the date of this announcement. Interested vendors shall: 1) include information on the proposed equipment which clearly supports the requirements outlined above and 2) provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. Response to this synopsis must be in writing. Submit response to the US EPA, Attention: Phyllis Roberts (MD-33), Contracts Management Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored. See Numbered Note(s) 22 and 26. (0160)

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