SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE
- Notice Date
- 8/17/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Ord Service Center, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268
- ZIP Code
- 45268
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-OH-04-00155
- Response Due
- 9/1/2004
- Archive Date
- 10/1/2004
- Point of Contact
- Point of Contact, Joshua Bowers, Purchasing Agent, Phone (513) 487-2104
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(bowers.joshua@epa.gov)
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541710 The U.S. EPA intends to negotiate for the National Risk Management Research Laboratory, located in Cincinnati, OH, on a sole source basis with the Ohio State University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering for a study entitled "Life Cycle Assessment of the Use of Ionic Liquids versus Traditional Solvents for Chemical Processes." Over the past decade, there is growing research and development work on the use of alternative solvents industrial reaction-separation processes as way to reduce pollution and increase yield. Most organic solvents can cause either air emission or water contamination problems. Over the past few years, there has been increasing interest and excitement in ionic liquids, molten salts, due to their potentially useful applications in organic, inorganic and bioinorganic transformations. This is mainly because of several favorable attributes such as non-flammable and non-volatile character, and relative ease of preparation. Ionic liquids have been shown to be useful for liquid-liquid extraction, as reaction media, catalysis, and electrochemistry. They have shown to enhance the overall activity and selectivity of chemical processes and many are stable up to 200 oC giving wide range of kinetic control. Although, there is a lot of work done on the use ionic liquid as a reaction medium and a full analysis of the use of IL is still lacking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to conduct a complete feasibility assessment on the use of ionic liquids for industrial processes. Life cycle analysis will be conducted on the process that includes the synthesis of ionic liquids and the purification steps, their use for chemical reaction medium, the recovery of reaction products and catalysts from the ionic liquids, and the recycling of ionic liquids will be assessed. Although, much of the current research is primarily aimed at discovery the prospect of these liquids is vast and more work is needed to understand the loss, stability, regeneration that are critical for viable commercial application. The US Environmental Protection Agency intends to conduct a study on how the use of ionic liquid compares with standard molecular solvents based on function, toxicity, environmental impacts, and costs. Specifically, the Ohio State University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering shall: Task 1 Literature Search. The contractor shall make extensive search of the literature to identify relevant research and sources of data. The search includes studies on specific aspects of the life cycle, manufacturing processes, toxicity, stability, environmental fate and migration, interaction and hazard, reactivity etc. Task 2 Selection of Typical Ionic Liquid and its Life Cycle. Based on the literature search and input from EPA researchers, the contractor shall select a typical ionic liquid for the detail study, along with an alternative standard molecular solvent. The detail goals of the study will be identified to asses the potential benefit of ionic liquids for commercial process using life cycle assessment study. Task 3 Obtaining Life Cycle Inventory Data. For all the processes selected in Task 2, the contract will obtain data about material and energy inputs, emissions, exposure potential, human health and environmental impacts of ionic liquids and potential breakdown of products from existing databases, literature and laboratory data. Task 4 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) The contractor shall comply with all the requirements as delineated on the "Quality Assurance Planning Requirements Form." The contractor shall prepare a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) document that describes the necessary assurance and control in the quality of the data gathered for the analysis. Task 5 Impact Assessment The contractor shall use life cycle inventory data for assessing the impact of the ionic liquids versus conventional molecular solvents. Standard methods from ISO 14000, as well as advanced thermodynamic methods that the contractor develops will be used for the impact assessment. Uncertainty bounds on the results will also be estimated. Task 6 Hybrid LCA The error introduced due to selection of only some processes in Task 2 will be reduced by considering information at coarser scales of the economy and ecosystems. The contractor uses novel approach for such a thermodynamic hybrid approaches. Task 7 Decision Analysis The contractor shall use the results of the hybrid approach for comparing the ionic liquids and molecular solvents, and used to guide decision making. This will help in determining whether ionic liquids are really superior from a life cycle environmental point of view and to set directions for future research. This notice is not a request for quotations. EPA source research indicates the Ohio State University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is the only known source able to satisfy the government's requirements. What is unique about Ohio State University's approach is that it (a) uses thermodynamics for the analysis to ensure satisfaction of the laws of nature, (b) accounts for the contribution of ecosystem goods and services or natural capital, which is essential for evaluating sustainability, (c) uses detailed chemical engineering process models based on the latest simulation tools and literature. However, any firm believing itself capable of meeting EPA requirements may submit technical documentation to establish the potential of fulfilling the government's requirements. Any such documentation must be submitted within 15 days of electronic posting of this notice (before Wednesday September 1, 2004 at 12:00 PM EST). A determination not to compete the proposed purchase order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis. This acquisition is being processed under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The applicable NAICS code is 541710. Interested parties should submit their technical documentation, referencing RFQ-OH- 04-00155, to Mr. Josh Bowers, preferably via email at bowers.joshua@epa.gov. Technical documentation may also be submitted as follows: via regular mail: U.S. EPA, Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, or via Express Mail/Hand Carry: U.S. EPA, 4411 Montgomery Road, Suite 300, Norwood, OH 45212. Faxes are acceptable and may be sent to (513)487-2109. Questions or comments may be directed to Mr. Josh Bowers at (513-487-2104) or via e-mail at bowers.joshua@epa.gov.
- Record
- SN00645840-W 20040819/040817213125 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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