U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268

A -- 12 REACTOR, COMPUTERIZED RESPIROMETER SYSTEM SOL RFQ-OH-98-00304 POC Kathy Roe, phone: (513)487-2144, fax: (513)487-2109 WEB: Office of Acquisition Management -- Cincinnati Contracts, This acquisition will not appear on the web site.. E-MAIL: U.S. EPA -- Cincinnati Contracts Management Division, roe.kathleen@epamail.epa.gov. The U. S. EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory plans to negotiate on a sole source basis with N-Con Systems Co. for the procurement of a computerized, automated respirometer, required for conducting experiments that continuously monitor the respiratory activity of bacteria consuming crude oil, coal tar derivatives, or other organic pollutants over periods of weeks to months. The system shall be able to monitor oxygen uptake continuously over time while the bacteria are degrading the organic materials in aqueous or solid matrices. The data shall be recorded continuously via a personal computer using existing N-Con Systems operating software and system interfaces. The software shall be able to display oxygen uptake curves and/or derivatives of the uptake curves on a color monitor. The operator shall be able to display the uptake curves for any or all of the reactors in operation or data files from prior experiments. The respirometer shall be equipped with an alkaline trap for collection of carbon dioxide evolved into the headspace. Each flask in the respirometer shall be independent of every other flask and all headspaces shall be kept separate at all times to prevent cross contamination of either bacteria or volatile components of the substrate under study. The respirometer shall be provided with a water bath temperature control accurate to plus or minus 0.1 C, in the range from 15 to 50 C. EPA source research indicates that N-Con Systems is uniquely qualified to provide this equipment given the fact the equipment must be compatible with existing N-Con software and system interface. However, any firm believing itself capable of meeting these requirements may submit technical documentation to establish the potential of complying with the minimum performance specifications. Only those firms presenting such documentation will be considered. Otherwise, EPA will proceed to negotiate with N-Con Systems. Note: The proposed acquisisiton is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed purchase order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Posted 07/22/98 (W-SN226777). (0203)

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