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

66 -- GAS CHROMATOGRAPH -- MASS SPECTROMETRY (GC/MS) SYSTEM SOL PR-CI-26510NL DUE 033199 POC J. Deanna Easley, Contract Specialist, (513) 487-2027 WEB: Office of Acquisition Management -- Cincinnati Contracts, http://www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd. Minimum Needs The U.S. EPA has a need for a Gas Chromatograph coupled with a Mass Spectrometry Analytical Detection System which will primarily be used for the trace analysis of human and/or environmental samples for pesticides, endocrine disruptors and metabolites. The system must have the following features: (1) Gas chromatograph must have the ability to add two detectors in addition to the Mass Spectrometry Analytical Detection System. The system must have the capability of capturing data from all three detectors simultaneously. This will allow for multiple detector capability to aid in the identification of components in extremely complex environmental mixtures. (2) Retention time locking or an equivalent method of reproducing analyte retention times and ensuring instrument stability is required due to the complex nature of the anticipated samples. In other words the GC shall have electronic pressure control on all inlets and detectors and be capable of reproducing analyte retention times independent of ambient temperature, barometric pressure, column length or detector as long as columns of same stationary phase, nominal phase ratio and diameter are used. This will prevent recalibration with an entire suite of standards after a column change, method transfer or routine maintainance. The neccesity of retention time locking is to allow the use of an original calibration curve and preclude a labourious re-injection of hundreds of individual standards. The retention time locking library will narrow the search to a few peaks from several hundred to identify unknown peaks. This will prevent the neccesity of keeping, hundreds of pesticide standards on site, but allow for tentative identification that could be followed with injection of an actual pesticide standard. (3) System must come with a library on CD-ROM, that contains relative retention time and mass spectral data for over 500 pesticides, endocrine disruptors and their metabolites. This library must be built by actual runs on an instrument of the type described herein. The system must be capable of identifying multiple pesticides in a single analysis because multiple pesticides are used in a single growing season, in limited geographic areas in most agricultural applications. This will also save time by allowing multiple analyses in a single run and conserve sample which may be of limited quantity. (4) Autoinjector parameters must be controlled through the data system; the injector shall not require gases, regulators, tubing or pneumatics for operation and must be temperature controlled with the ability to be heated or cooled to a constant temperature. Due to the volatility of some of the anticipated analytes or of the extraction solvents, a fast injection (100 milliseconds) is required to prevent sample decomposition or loss. (5) The data system must be capable of simultaneous collection and data handling from Flame Ionization Detector, Nitrogen Phosphorus Detector, and Mass Spectrometry Analytical System Detector. This will allow for multiple detector capability to aid in the identification of components or materials in extremely complex environmental mixtures. The data system must also allow automated control of all operating parameters, including the electronic pressure control of the Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometry Detection system. (6) The system must include test columns, gas purifying cartridges, and tubing neccesary for installation and performance testing. Also included will be two analytical columns of the same phase used to originate the CD-ROM libraries described herein. All parts and labor for installation of GC/MS system must be included. The Request for Quotation (RFQ) will be released on 3/29/99 with a due date for quotations of 4/12/99. This acquisition will be performed according to Simplified Acquisition Procedures (FAR Part 13). Requests for a copy of the RFP can be sent via facsimile to (513) 487-2109. All requests should include a complete mailing address. Posted 03/15/99 (W-SN308597). (0074)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0254 19990317\66-0003.SOL)