Department of Commerce, Mountain Administrative Support Center, Acqusition Management Division, MC3, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Co 80303-3328

66 -- OZONESONDES SOL 51RANR000001 DUE 080399 POC Procurement Technicians (v: 303.497.3221, fax: 303.497.3163) This is a combined synopsis/INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) (no. 51RANR000001) for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented by additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only IFB for the following items; bids are hereby requested. A written IFB will not be issued by the Government. The following incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12 (as of July 7, 1999). This is a 100% small business set-aside. SIC code: 3829; small business size standard: 500 employees. The NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado has a requirement for ozonesondes to be purchased over a period of between one and five years (one base period and up to four option years). An indefinite quantity of ozonesondes (between 150 and 500 per year -- to be ordered in minimum lots of 50) are required pursuant to this IFB/contract; each ozonesonde shall have and/or meet the following minimum performance requirements for a balloon-borne electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesonde for use in measuring atmospheric ozone vertical distributions to altitudes of 38 km above mean sea level: (a) The principle of operation of the ozone sensor shall be the electrochemical concentration cell (ECC). (b) All parts of the sensor body and tubing coming in contact with the air sample shall be fabricated from TFE Teflon to minimize destruction of ozone. (c) To minimize variability in response to ozone among different ECC sensors, the platinum screen cathode of the sensor shall have a cross-section configuration of fixed design. (d) The sensor shall operate with either 2.5 or 3.0 cm cathode sensing solution. Sensor design shall be such that all atmospheric ozone entering the sensor reacts with the cathode sensing solution in the normal operating pressure range of 1000mb to 4mb; i.e., no ozone shall pass through the sensor unreacted with the sensing solution. (e) The platinum cathode andanode of the sensor shall be appropriately treated to optimize sensor response time. The sensor shall be capable of indicating 85% to 90% of a step change in ozone input to the sensor in one minute at typical sensor output currents due to ozone of 1 to 6 uA. (f) Sensor background current shall be less than 0.15 uA. The background current is the current output by the sensor when air without ozone is pumped through the sensor. (g) Accuracy of ozone measurement within the sensor shall be such that agreement to within +/-2% is obtained when the sensor measures ozone output at 25 C by an ozone generator whose calibration is traceable to photometric ozone standards maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD. The specified accuracy shall apply to measured ozone concentrations at NTP in the range of 0.05 to 0.25 parts per million by volume. (h) Sensor design shall be such that no significant loss of sensing solution occurs from the sensor due to sputtering at high altitudes where solution boiling within the sensor may occur. (i) Air input from the atmosphere to the sensor shall be effected by means of a force (as opposed to suction) type pump. (j) The pump shall be fabricated from the TFE Teflon reinforced with glass fibers. No lubricants (oils) that destroy ozone shall be used within the pump. (k) Pump flow rate shall be nominally 200ml min. (l) Pump motor speed shall be nominal 2400 r.p.m., and shall be governed to within +/-1.5% of the mean value during duration of the ozonesonde ascent through the atmosphere. (m) The pump shall be operated by nominal 12-volt batteries, with input power to the motor nominally 1.2 watts (batteries not included). (n) Each pump shall develop at least 460mm of mercury pressure and 460mm of mercury vacuum. (o) Pump efficiency variations as a function of altitude shall meet the minimum requirement as follows: (Pressure in millibars : Pump Efficiency) -- 300: 0.98, 100: 0.95, 30: 0.90, 10: 0.85, and 5: 0.75. Efficiencies are determined using a bubble flow meter in an environmental test chamber with 2cc of head pressure. The efficiency of sample pumps may be checked at NOAA/CMDL, Boulder, Colorado or at a similar facility. (p) The ozonesondes shall be housed in a polystyrene environmental insulation box. Thermal design of the flight package shall be such that the temperature within the box shall cool to below about 15 C but not less than about 5 C during routine ozone soundings to 10 mb to 4 mb in the stratosphere of 1.5 to 2.5 hours duration. (q) The temperature of the piston/cylinder of the Teflon in the pump shall have the capability of being monitored throughout the flight and telemetered to the ground receiving station along with the ozone and meteorological data. (r) The ozonesonde shall have an attached metal case for mounting an electronics circuit board. The case shall have a dimension of h 6.67cm x w 7.30cm x d 3.81cm. Four 1.30cm 4-40 screws shall be attached to the front corners of the box to mount the circuit board. The mounting screws shall be 4.37cm from the center of the box (i.e. in a rectangular pattern 6.03cm x 6.35cm). The case shall be accessible from the back to allow mounting and servicing of the board. The top of the case shall have an opening approximately centered with smoothed edges extending from the front of the case of w 1.30cm and d 3.20cm for access for wires and cable. (s) Size of the ECC ozonesonde, including flight box, shall not exceed the nominal dimensions 20 x 20 x 25cm. Weight of the ozonesonde, excluding batteries, shall not exceed about 600g. Marking Requirements: (a) The Contractor shall affix a label to each ECC ozonesonde providing the following information: (1) ECC ozonesonde serial number (2) Manufacturing contract number (3) Date of manufacture (4) Pressure developed by the pump in inches Hg (5) Vacuum developed by the pump in inches Hg (6) Pump voltage (7) Pump current (8) Pump air flow rate in sec/100ml. (b) Each package shall be marked with the contract number, and name and address of the contractor, on the outside of the packing container for identification purposes. In addition, a chart (which is for informational purposes only) depicting "Typical ECC Pump Efficiency" at varying pressures is available either via mail or fax and may be requested by fax at 303.497.3163 or by voice at 303.497.3221. Delivery shall be made within 60 calendar days after Contractor's receipt of each Delivery Order. Deliveries shall be F.O.B. Destination to NIST, Building 22, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80303-3328. Forms may be downloaded from the following address: http://www.gsa.gov/forms/farnumer.htm/ Clauses may be downloaded from the following address: www.arnet.gov/far Interested parties are responsible for accessing and downloading documents from that (or any other) site. Firms which have no access to the Internet may telephone 303.497.3221 and ask that copies of forms and/or clauses be either mailed or faxed to them. Faxed requests to 303.497.3163 for forms or clauses will also be honored. Requests must state specifically which forms and/or clauses are required (by clause/provision/form number or title); if the documents are not specified in the request, we cannot respond. Bids shall include a properly completed and signed Standard Form 1449. The following provisions and clauses apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-1, (provision) "Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items," FAR 52.212-3, (provision) "Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items,"(NOTE: Offerors shall include with their offers a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3), FAR 52.212-4, (clause) "Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items," FAR 52.212-5, (clause) "Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders, Commercial Items" the following FAR clauses in paragraph (b) are applicable: (5) 52.219-8, "Utilization of Small Business Concerns" (15 U.S.C. 637 (d)(2) and (3)), (7) 52.219-14, "Limitations on Subcontracting" (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)), (11) 52.222-21, "Prohibition of Segregated Facilities" (Feb 1999), (12) 52.222-26, "Equal Opportunity" (E.O. 11246), (13) 52.222-35, "Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era." (38 U.S.C. 4212), (14) 52.222-36, "Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities" (29 U.S.C. 793), (15) 52.222-37, "Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era" (38 U.S.C. 4212), (23) 52.232-34, "Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer -- Other than Central Contractor Registration" (31 U.S.C. 3332). In addition, the following clauses address terms and conditions pertinent to this indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity IFB/contract. FAR 52.216-18, (clause) "Ordering," subparagraph (a) is completed as follows: "...from date of award through expiration of the contract." FAR 52.216-19, (clause) "Order Limitations," blanks in indicated subparagraphs are completed as follows: (a) "50 each," (b)(1) "200," (b)(2) "200," (b)(3) "30 days," (d) "14 days." FAR 52.216-21, (clause) "Requirements," blank in subparagraph (f) is completed as follows: "60 days following expiration of the contract." FAR 52.217-9, (clause) "Option to Extend the Term of the Contract," blank in subparagraph (c) is completed as follows: "5 years." Award will be made to the lowest-priced, responsive, responsible bidder. Total price for the maximum quantity during each year (500 per year) will be evaluated in order to determine the apparent awardee. Bids are due at 3:00 p.m. on August 3, 1999 and shall be mailed to BID DEPOSITORY, DOC, MASC, MC3, Procurement Division, Room 33-GB506A, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303-3328. This is a 100% Small Business Set-Aside; see Numbered Note 1. Posted 07/08/99 (W-SN351592). (0189)

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