USDA-ARS-FAA, Richard B. Russell Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605-2720

66 -- ELECTRONIC NOSE SYSTEM SOL RFQ-021-4384-99 DUE 061199 POC Elaine Wood, Contracting Officer, 706/546-3534 WEB: Click here to download a copy of 52.212-3, www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/repcert.html. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer by email, woode@ars.usda.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 will not be issued. The solicitation number RFQ-021-4384-99 is issued as a request for quotations and incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through FAC 97-09. FAR 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside is applicable to this acquisition. The standard industrial classification code is 3826. The small business size standard is 500 employees. Specifications for a high performance electronic nose system: 1. Autosampler: System must be modular in design such that the autosampler can be serviced independently from the main sensor array body. The autosampler must have the capability to hold at least 50 10ml sample vials and be upgradeable to hold over 80 10ml sample vials. The autosampler must also be capable of also accommodating 20, 60, 120, and 500ml glass sample vials, as well as Tedlar bags. Autosampler must also be capable of purge and trap techniques. The injector on the autosampler must be able to accommodate 1.0 to 5.0ml syringes and be user-interchangeable. The autosampler must have programmable sampling methods, which are controlled directly by the vendor's analytical software package. The auto sampler must be able to accommodate multiple injections in more than one sampling port to allow for multiple sensor analysis simultaneously in a given method. The autosampler must be easily upgradeable to accommodate cooling trays for further versatility of the system. 2. Electronic Nose-main sensor array console Must be able to accommodate over 20 hybrid metal oxide sensors. Must have the ability to be configured and operate with metal oxide, conducting polymer, and quartz crystal microbalance sensors simultaneously, without having to physically reconfigure the system. Must have the ability to accommodate an infrared sensor module in the main body of the electronic nose. Must have the ability to run in dynamic, manual, or autosampler modes under the same analytical software package. Must be supplied with air conditioning system for precise temperature and humidity control. Must have the ability to utilize multiple presets on the system for ease of operation. Must have the capability of being upgraded to a mass spectrometry detection system to be run simultaneously with the sensor array analysis. This combined sensor array/mass spectrometry system must accommodate multiple injections of the same aliquot from the autosampler. The subsequent data analysis must be performed by one software package for both the sensor array and the mass spectrometry data. Individual sensors must be interchangeable and user-replaceable. 3. Software The vendor-provided software package must have all of the following features: a) The ability to fully control the modular autosampler. B) The ability to acquire analytical data from metal oxide, conducting polymer, quartz crystal microbalance, infrared, and mass spectrometry detectors. c) The ability to perform multiple forms of statistical analysis. d) The ability to perform routine predictions. The software will have the capability to program vial positioning and sequencing on the autosampler. The software must have parallel acquisition capability when using mass spectrometry and sensor array simultaneously. Software package must include the following data processing techniques: PCA (Principal Component Analysis), DFA (Discriminant Factorial Analysis), PLS (Partial Least Squares), and SIMCA (Soft Independent Modeling Classification Analogy). Software must include algorithms for automatic correction for variability in calibration data. 4. General System must include installation and training on-site. Vendor must have at least 3 other US government placements. Delivery is required within 8 weeks ARO. Delivery is FOB Destination to USDA, ARS, Winter Haven, FL. Descriptiveliterature showing the quoted item meets or exceeds all specifications included herein must accompany the quotation. The government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsive/responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation and is most price advantageous to the government. A final rule published in the Federal Register on 9/25/96 states that effective Jan 2,99, all federal payments made by an agency must be made by electronic funds transfer. Prospective quoters should state that they will accept government impact cards as payment or that they are or will be set up for electronic funds transfer with the USDA, NFC, New Orleans, LA. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The contracting officer will make award based on price and price-related factors. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror/Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its proposal. Far 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following FAR clauses cited in 52.212-5 are applicable to this acquisition: 52.203-6; 52.203-10, 52.219-8; 52.222-26; 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37; 52.225-3; 52.222-18; 52.225-21. The contractor shall extend to the Government the full coverage of any standard commercial warranty normally offered in a similar commercial sale, provided such warranty is available at no additional cost to the Government. Acceptance of the standard commercial warranty does not waive the Government's rights under the Inspection clause nor does it limit the Government's rights with regard to the other terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the contract shall take precedence over the standard commercial warranty. The contractor shall provide a copy of its standard commercial warranty (if applicable) with its response. Responses are due by 4:00 pm local time, June11, 1999 at USDA Agricultural Research Service, 950 College Station Rd, Athens, GA 30605-2720 (or POB 5677, Athens, GA 30604-5677). POC Elaine Wood, Contract Specialist, 706/546-3534 or fax 706/546-3444. Posted 05/24/99 (W-SN334886). (0144)

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