58 -- MULTI-DETECTOR ALPHA/BETA COUNTING SYSTEM

Notice Date

September 11, 2001

Contracting Office

Administrative Contracts Service Center (3803R), Environmental Protection Agency, Ronald Reagan Building -- 7th Floor, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460

ZIP Code

20460

E-Mail Address

smith.christopher@epa.gov (smith.christopher@epa.gov)

Description

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) intends to award a sole source fixed price purchase order to Canberra Industries of Meriden, CT for a Low Background Alpha/Beta Counter, One Drawer with Single 5-inch Detector, OSUM Software Package, and AB-GR Dual State Gas Regulator. Specifications for a Multi-Detector Alpha/Beta Counting System: The intent of these specifications is to define a comprehensive Low Background Alpha/Beta Counting System. All specifications represent operational requirements for the emergency response needs of the agency. Any exceptions taken to these specifications will cause the vendor's proposal to be ruled non-compliant. Where alternate approaches are proposed, they must fully address the requirements herein. Vendors offering alternates must address each specification point by point and describe completely the method of compliance with these requirements. 1. The system shall be a gas flow proportional counter consisting of (7) gas flow detectors. There shall be one-drawer housing (4) 2.25 inch detectors and three drawers housing (1) 5.25 inch detector each. 2. Each detector shall have the capability of being started and stopped independently. 3. Each detector shall have an individual window and shall be gold plated to reduce the Alpha background. If an individual window should fail, it shall be possible to easily re-route the counting gas so that the remaining detectors shall stay in service. 4. The detector body shall be made of copper and gold plated. 5. Each detector shall feature dual anodes for increased efficiency and reproducibility. 6. For this four-drawer system, complete electronic redundancy is required. Should two drawers require maintenance, the other two should continue to be fully operational. 7. The system shall automatically perform calibrations for Plateau, Efficiency, Background, and Spillover. 8. The system shall provide integrated Quality Control Charts for each detector. It shall be possible to track all pertinent information such as efficiency and background. 9. The system software shall be multi-tasking Windows 9X for control of system functions and analysis of counting data. Graphical displays of system and detector status shall be provided. Any software upgrades released within the next year of award of this procurement shall be provided at no additional cost to the Government. 10. NOTE: Analysis file data structure shall be fully documented to provide for user software development for importing of specific information into an EPA Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). 11. The system shall have standard System Defined Application procedures for the counting of different types of samples including swipes and smears. 12. The following performance specifications are a minimum: Background (measured with a 2.25 inch detector) and 80ug/cm2 two window; Gross (alpha+beta) <1.30cpm, Alpha <0.10cpm, Beta <1.20cpm. Efficiency; Alpha (Polonium210) =/<3.5%slope/100V & =/<800Vplateau, Beta (Strontium90) =/,3.5%slope/100V & =/<200Vplateau. Sample Count Rate; 500,000cpm with ,1.5% deadtime loss. Counting Time Preset; adjustable between 0.1 and 9999 minutes. See Note(s) 22 and 23.

Web Link

smith.christopher@epa.gov (smith.christopher@epa.gov)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010913/SPMSC009.HTM (W-254 SN50X2S5)