66 -- AMBIENT NITRATE MONITOR

Notice Date

July 30, 2001

Contracting Office

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

ZIP Code

27711

Solicitation Number

EPAU2D139

Response Due

August 14, 2001

Point of Contact

Barbara Nelson, Contract Specialist, (919)541-4474

E-Mail Address

Use the above e-mail address to contact the Contract (nelson.barbarar@epa.gov)

Description

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Rupprecht & Patashnick Company, Albany, New York for a Series 8400N Ambient Nitrate Monitor. The Nitrate Monitor is specified as: 1) Operates at 120 VAC; 2) Provides semi-continuous measurements of particulate nitrate mass concentration; 3) Uses a patented flash-vaporization technique for the direct determination of the ambient particulate nitrate mass concentration; 4) Incorporates a weather-protected inlet and transport tubing for the sample stream and ambient-temperature sheath flow; 5) Uses a C3 Pulse Generator for the collection and flashing of collected PM2.5 material; 6) Contains a microprocessor-based control system, user interface, and supporting electronics; 7) Uses a pulse analyzer for determining the amount of NOX released through flash volatilization of collected PM2.5; 8) Incorporates a sample pump to provide the vacuum necessary for sample collection; 9) Uses N2 purge/zero gas and NOX in N2 for calibration verification; 10) Incorporates a NOX-chemiluminescence sensor specially configured for pulse measurements for accurate, time-resolved analyses; 11) Can compute a new data point every 10 minutes (default) with a resolution of +/-0.2 ug/m3; 12) Incorporates an activated carbon denuder to remove gaseous interferences; 13) Humidifies the particle-laden sample stream using Nafion humidification system to maximize the collection efficiency to the impactor; 14) Ensures that flash-volatilization takes place under thermodynamically favorable conditions, preventing cross-interference from ammonium; 15) Analyses are performed inside the instrument; and 16) Provides built-in software and hardware support for automatic calibrations and verifications of zero and span using cylinders of N2 and NOx and for manual calibrations using an aqueous standard. EPA believes that the Rupprecht & Patashnick Company is the only vendor capable of satisfying the requirement. The circumstance permitting "Other than full and open competition" is FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements". All interested parties who believe they can provide the required items should submit a written proposal within 15 days from the date of this announcement. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 334516 , which has a size standard of 500 employees to qualify as a small business, is applicable. The intent of this notice is to determine if any other source(s) exist, and therefore, no solicitation (RFQ) is available. Consequently, any response failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will be ignored. Submit response to U.S. EPA, Attn: Barbara R. Nelson (MD-33), Contracts Management Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010801/66SOL014.HTM (W-211 SN50T3U8)