National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div.,100 Bureau Drive Stop 3572, Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3572

66 -- SIMULTANEOUS THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER AND DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYZER SYSTEM SOL 53SBNB960094 DUE 052599 POC TAMARA GRINSPON, Contract Specialist, (301) 975-4390; Paul G. Cataldo, Contracting Officer, (301) 975-6332 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED.*****This solicitation, #53SBNB960094, is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-09. The associated Standards Industrial Classification Code (SIC) for this procurement is 3596, and the small business size is 500 Employees.*****The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a requirement for a quantity of one (1) Simultaneous Thermogravimetric Analyzer and Differential Thermal Analyzer System, and Thermal Analysis Software Package, v.6.0, Mettler Toledo brand name (TG851e/SF/1100 and STARe P/N 51140853, TAS/NT, 51140458, HP/ink/jet color printer), or equal. The system will be used at NIST to study the mechanism of polymer combustion with new, novel flame retardant additives to promote the use of more fire safe materials. This study requires extremely precise, reproducible thermal gravimetric analysis to obtain global kinetic constants for the thermal degradation of polymers with and without flame retardant additives and also to characterize what are generally small changes in thermal stability of polymers due to the flame retardant additives.*****Salient characteristics of the Mettler Toledo system include 1 microgram resolution; temperature reproducibility of +/- 0.15 Degrees Celsius; direct contact of a temperature sensor with the sample pan; and fully automated device control and data acquisition with WindowsNT based graphic user interface. These specifications are crucial for accurate performance and assessment done by the Fire Safe Materials Research Program at NIST, and shall be provided by prospective vendors in order to be considered for award.*****Additionally, the system shall include one additional set of 70 micro liter Aluminum Oxide Crucibles (20 per box) (Mettler Toledo P/N 24123); installation of the full system; calibration of the full system; on-site (NIST) training; a one-year warranty on parts and labor; and a Toll-Free Support Line to call for assistance. All components of the system and related software shall be Y2K compliant. *****Delivery is required within 60 days after receipt of order (ARO).*****Delivery location is the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 301, Shipping and Receiving, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001. The FOB point shall be DESTINATION, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD.*****The following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items.*****Evaluation Criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: (A) Technical capability to meet or exceed the Government's specifications (offerors shall submit a quotation addressing all required specifications, and shall provide descriptive literature for item(s) quoted; (B) Past Performance (offerors shall submit evidence of having produced and sold comparable units within the past 5 years, with indication of performance success (list of 3 references, with name of contact, firm, phone number, and item(s) purchased); and (C) Price. Technical evaluation criteria [(A) and (B)], when combined, are more important than price.*****The Government anticipates awarding a purchase order resulting from this combined synopsis/solicitation to the responsible vendor whose quotation, conforming to this synopsis/solicitation, will offer the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered.*****Vendors shall address all requirements in this combined synopsis/solicitation, and shall provide clear evidence of understanding and the ability and willingness to comply with the Government's specifications of need. Failure to address a specification/requirement will be construed by the Government as inability to meet the need, or the vendor's taking exception to it.*****All vendors are to include with their quotes, a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, which may be downloaded from http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/repcert. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition, including subparagraphs (11) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; (12) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; (13) 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; (14) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities; (15) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; (21)(ii) Alternate I of 52.225-21, Buy American Act-North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act-Balance of Payments Program; and Department of Commerce Agency-Level Protest Procedures Level Above the Contracting Officer, which can be downloaded from the NIST Web Page located at http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/protest.htm.*****All interested, responsible firms should submit quotes (Original Plus One Copy Of Quote And Enclosures), by 3:00 PM, Washington DC time, on May 25, 1999, to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Acquisition and Assistance Division, ATTN: TAMARA GRINSPON, Building 301, Room B117, 100 Bureau Drive STOP 3572, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-3572. Faxed quotes will NOT be accepted. Copies of above-referenced clauses are available upon request, either by telephone or fax. Posted 05/11/99 (W-SN329886). (0131)

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