National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, PO Box 6495, Cincinnati, OH 45206

66 -- MULTI-ELEMENT SPECTRUM ANALYZER SOL 99086 DUE 091099 POC Phyllis J. Schweickart, 513/533-8185, or Contracting Officer Dwight Favors, 513/533-8137 The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with NITON Corp. for the procurement of the following item. The instrument must meet all of the following specifications: Instrument shall be a field-portable XRF spectrum analyzer with a cadmium-109 source (40 mCi, source half-life of 463 days) with ability to measure fifteen elements, including arsenic, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, molybdenum, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, titanium, zinc, and zirconium. Shall be capable of upgrade to a dual-source instrument (second source Am-241) for quantification of 8 additional elements, including antimony, barium, cadmium, indium, iodine, palladium, silver, and tin. Shall perform automated, simultaneous K-shell and L-shell x-ray detection and spectrum analysis, and be capable of displaying the complete x-ray spectrum from 3KeV -- 88 KeV for each reading of elements listed above. Must be able to indicate the degree to which any leadpresent is found on the surface or shielded by layers of non-lead paint. Must make automated 95%-confident positive/negative decision versus action level, at action levels for lead in paint of 0.5 to 2.0 mg/cm2. Lead spectrum must be displayed with sufficient resolution to conclusively confirm presence or absence of significant quantities of lead. For lead in paint instrument must consistently achieve precision of 0.2 mg/cm2 on a NIST 1.02 mg/cm2 lead-paint standard film in 20 source-seconds. Current HUD Performance Characteristic Sheet for instrument must indicate there is no inconclusive range in any paint testing mode, on any substrate. Must have ability to quantitatively measure metals listed in Item #1 in thin films, including air filters and dust wipe samples, and be provided with a precision test platform for measuring lead (Pb) in 37-mm air filters in accordance with NIOSH Method 7702. Must always analyze paint and reach a 95%-confident positive/negative determination versus the user-defined action lead paint action level in less than 60 source seconds, and have a typical reading time of less than 10 source-seconds on all substrates. Must analyze standard dust wipes in 4 minutes or less with a lead detection limit of 25 ug/wipe. Must analyze 37 mm air filters in 3 minutes or less with a lead-detection limit of 5 ug/filter. Instrument is provided with integral safety features including safety shutter, shutter safety lock switch, and automatic shutter closing mechanism when instrument is lifted from a surface. Instrument provided with integral memory for data storage and display of 500 or more paint-mode readings, and have an automated bar-code based data entry system. Must not require radiation label on carrying case and conform to 49 CFR 173.421 for "excepted package", instruments and articles, N.O.S. UN2910. Must be a single, self-contained unit weighing no more than 3 pounds including batteries, and be designed to be held and operated with one hand. Must always self-calibrate before testing is enabled.Instrument must electrically regulate temperature of its detectors to prevent inconsistent results caused by shifts in ambient temperature. Must be capable of demonstrating ELPAT proficiency for analyses of lead in dust wipes and air filters. NIOSH research indicates that NITON, Corp. is the only vendor capable of meeting the requirements. However, any firm believing itself capable of meeting the requirements may submit technical documentation to demonstrate its potential of doing so. Otherwise NIOSH will proceed under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with NITON, Corp. under the authority of FAR 6.302. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations. An RFQ will not be issued. However all quotations received within fifteen (15) days after the date of this synopsis is posted electronically will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will generally be for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Posted 08/20/99 (W-SN370391). (0232)

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