NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

66 -- COMPONENTS FOR A HIGH-RESOLUTION, HIGH THROUGHPUT, QUADRUPOLE MASS DISCRIMINATED ION SOURCE SOL RFQ2-36677-SLC DUE 080498 POC Sharon L. Connolly, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-6927, Fax (650) 604-4646, Email sconnolly@mail.arc.nasa.gov -- Barbara A. Drake, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-3002, Fax (650) 604-4646, Email bdrake@mail.arc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/ARC/date.html#RFQ2-36677-SLC. E-MAIL: Sharon L. Connolly, sconnolly@mail.arc.nasa.gov. This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format of Federal Acquisition Regulation (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. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). This project's goal is the fabrication of a revolutionary new ion source capable of generating an intense beam of a wide variety of specific, mass-selected ions permitting the unambiguous measurement of their spectroscopic properties. This ion source is to work in concert with and be incorporated into the matrix-isolation experiment currently in use in the Astrochemistry Laboratory. To ensure success of this new technique, the ion source must coincidentally satisfy both of the following requirements. (1) A high mass-selected ion current. For a typical cation, a detectable infrared absorbance would require a minimum of 10e(14) ions in our infrared spectrometer while accurate measurement of spectral features down to the 1% level, would require at least 10e(16) ions. An ion current of 200 nanoamps, corresponding to a flux of 10e(12) ions/second, would thus provide detectable ion concentrations in only 2 min. and a quantity sufficient for good-quality spectroscopic measurements with 3 hr -- putting the experiment well within practical limits. Previous experiments have demonstrated that mass selected ion currents on the order of 50 nanoamps or less are simply not feasible. Therefore, it is absolutely critical that the mass selected ion current measured at the exit of the mass-discriminating sector be as large as possible and not less than 200 nanoamps. (2) an extremely low level of background contamination. The ion source's ability to provide a specific ionized species to the matrix-isolation experiment must be accompanied by a commensurate ability to exclude all other species, ionized and neutral. The presence of such contaminants in the matrix-isolation experiments greatly complicates the interpretation of spectra and would seriously compromise the efficacy of the new technique. To satisfy the objectives of this project, the following components, as well as any power supplies, cables, and computer software, necessary to operate the components will be required. Precursor ions are to be generated in an electron impact ionization source complete with focusing optics. Upon exiting this source the ions should be directed into a quadrupole deflector which will serve both to reduce background contamination and to exclude condensables from the mass filter. The deflected, pure ion beam is to be directed into a quadrupole mass filter which will select out only the ion of interest and reject all others. Upon exiting the quadrupole, the beam of mass-selected ions should pass through a second quadrupole deflector, through an Einzel lens stack, and into the existing matrix-isolation chamber. As laid out above, the current of the mass-selected ion beam which enters the matrix isolation chamber must meet or exceed 200 nanoamps. In addition, the components provided must satisfy the following specifications: (1) A high transmission tunable combination electron impact ionizer and quadrupole deflection energy filter with +/- 400 V molecular beam focusing optics having better than 50% ion signal transmission. (2) High transmission, 3/4 inch rod diameter Quadrupole Mass Filter with tunable entrance and exit lenses, capable of operating between 1 and 500 amu with better than unit mass resolution across the entire mass range. (3) A tunable quadrupole deflector to be located at the exit of the mass filter with ion signal transmission exceeding 50%. (4) Control electronics capable of controlling any combination of up to 16 +/- 400 V and +/- 100 V ion optics. (5) Expandable control electronics that allow for the addition of power supplies for an electron multiplier detector. (6) +/- 200 V pole bias capability on the quadrupole mass filter for maximum high current ion beam focusing. (7) The components must provide a maximal mass selected ion current which exceeds 200 nanoamps. (8) All components should be computer controllable with a single Windows 95 compatible software package. The following components shall not be required: (1) An electron multiplier or other appropriate ion detector and associated equipment. (2) A vacuum chamber in which to mount the components. (3) A high vacuum pumping system. (4) Computer and associated hardware. The provisions and clauses in the RFQ are those in effect through FAC 97-05. This procurement is a total small business set-aside. See Note 1. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code and the small business size standard for this procurement are 3826 and 500 employees, respectively. The quoter shall state in their quotation their size status for this procurement. All qualified responsible business sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency.Delivery shall be FOB destination. The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. Quotations for the item(s) described above may be mailed or faxed (fax machine capacity is limited to 13 pages) to the identified point of contact by the date/time specified and include, solicitation number, FOB destination to this Center, proposed delivery schedule, discount/payment terms, warranty duration (if applicable), taxpayer identification number (TIN), identification of any special commercial terms, and be signed by an authorized company representative. Quoters are encouraged to use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items form found at URL http://procure.arc.nasa.gov/Acq/Standard_Forms/Index.html to submit a quotation. Quoters shall provide the information required by FAR 52.212-1 with the exception of (d) and (i). The Representations and Certifications required by FAR 52.212-3 may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/msfc/pub/reps_certs/sats/. FAR 52.212-4 is applicable. AR 52.212-5 is applicable and the following identified clauses are incorporated by reference: 52.222-3, 52.233-3, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, and 52.225-3. Addenda to FAR 52.212-5 are as follows: ARC 52.232-93 and Year 2000 Compliance. Questions regarding this acquisition must be submitted in writing no later than July 28, 1998. Quotations are due by 4:30pm PDST on August 4, 1998, to the attention of Sharon L. Connolly and should be mailed to NASA-Ames Research Center, M/S:241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035. Selection and award will be in accordance with FAR 52.212-2 with the following evaluation factors: (1) technical acceptability, (2) past performance, and (3) price. Technical acceptability will be determined using information submitted by the quoter in sufficient detail to show that the product quoted meets the Government's requirements. Quoters must provide copies of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items with their quote. See above for where to obtain copies of the form via the Internet. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See Internet Note "B". It is the quoter's responsibility to monitor this site for the release of amendments (if any). Potential quoters will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this combination synopsis/solicitation and amendments (if any). Hard copies may be obtained from the identified point of contact; however, the closing date is as stated in this combination synopsis/solicitation, inclusive of any amendments. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. Posted 07/20/98 (D-SN225938). (0201)

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