Purchase of a Pyrolysis Unit for Gas Chromatography The Library of Congress intends to purchase through sole source from CDS Analytical, Inc., P.O. Box 277,Oxford, PA , 19363-0277, a Pyroprobe 5150 Pyrolyzer with programmable interface, that will be used for research and routine characterization of the chemical components of a broad range of Library collection materials and collection housing materials. It is the Library’s understanding that the identified instrument system is the only one commercially available in the U.S. that is capable of meeting the Library’s critical performance requirement for a pyrolysis unit for gas chromatography that also meets the following needs: It must be compatible with any make and model of gas chromatograph (GC); it must include a heated GC interface with variable temperature programming with the pyrolyzer using a platinum filament for variable temperature control, either of coil or ribbon type contained in a user-replaceable probe rod that is user replaceable and factory calibrated to ensure temperature repeatability within +/- 1 °C; the pyrolyzer must provide for direct analysis of samples either on the ribbon filament or in quartz tubes that will fit directly inside the coil filament; the temperature and heating rate of the pyrolyzer filaments must be programmable from ambient to 1400 °C, programmable in 1 °C increments, with user-selectable heating rates of 0.01 °C/min to 20.0 °C/msec; the pyrolyzer must have a built-in “low-mass” type heated interface for transfer of pyrolysis products to the GC that can allow for either non-isothermal or programmable operation in 1 °C increments to 350 °C with the interface connected through a heated sample line into the injection port of the GC allowing quick removal and switching to another GC; temperature programming of both the pyrolysis robe and the GC interface must allow for at least eight multiple ramping steps that will include initial temperature, ramp, and final temperature with separate GC runs for each ramping step; the instrument must have three modes of operation, with one used for analyzing samples by pyrolysis, one for cleaning non-volatile residues from the heating element and quartz tubes by heating the coil to 1200 °C for 5 seconds, and one for allowing for evaporation of solvents used to dissolve the sample before pyrolysis; the pyrolysis unit must be software programmable from a Windows-based PC and allow for the remote start of the GC through the pyrolyzer and for the storage of an unlimited number of analytical methods; the pyrolysis unit must be capable of interfacing directly to a sample concentrator device to allow for maximum flexibility in the analysis; and the pyrolyzer must be provided by a supplier having local service support and stocking of spare parts, with the supplier providing installation, start-up assistance, and on-site training. Any other company that, at the time of application, (1) is either legally incorporated as a U.S. business entity or capable of demonstrating through its business plan its intention to be fully incorporated as a U.S. business, and (2) believes its elemental analysis system can meet all the above equipment performance requirements can apply to the Library for consideration.

Bid Protests Not Available