This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12505B21Q0112 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-07.The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following:

Scope of Work: Characterization of a wide array of compounds can be achieved via ion chromatography including identification and quantification of individual amino acids and simple carbohydrates from mixed samples. Identification and quantification of amino acids and carbohydrates in feed, forages, and fermented forages are necessary for accurate, in-depth determination of feed quality and precision animal nutrition. 

Technical Requirements/Tasks: 

Contractor must provide a unit with the specifications below and at least 2 days training in the use of the instrument. The instrument must feature a dual pump high-performance ion chromatography unit with pulse amplitude detection with sufficient columns necessary for sequential identification and quantification of carbohydrates and amino acids.

• Pump Dual-piston (in series), microprocessor controlled, constant stroke, variable speed, Isokinetic Eluent Precompression, chemically inert, metal-free PEEK pump heads and flow path; compatible with aqueous eluents from pH 0–14 and reversed-phase solvents
• Amino acid analysis
  • Carbohydrate trap column
  • Amino acid separation column
• Carbohydrate analysis
  • Amino acid trap column
  • Carbohydrate separation column
• Pressure Analytical: 0–35 MPa (0–5000 psi) | Capillary: 0–41 MPa (0–6000 psi)
• Flow Rate Range Analytical: 0.000–10.000 mL/min + 0.001 mL/min. Capillary: 0.001–0.100 mL/min flow rate and up to 3.000 mL/min for pump priming
• mL/min + 0.001 mL/min
• Flow Rate Precision (Analytical and Capillary) < 0.1%
• Flow Rate Accuracy < 0.1%
• Vacuum Degasser Integrated, optional 1 channel for isocratic pump or 4 channel for quaternary pump
• Gradient Profiles Any combination of an unlimited number of linear, convex, and concave positive and negative gradient profiles
• Gradient Proportioning Accuracy and Precision        ±0.5 at 2 mL/min
• Gradient Mixing Passive mixers for 2 mm and 4 mm i.d. columns, optional
• System Software supporting Windows 10
• Flow Path: All polymeric (PEEK), anion or cation configuration
• Electrochemical Detector
  • Electronics Type Microprocessor controlled digital signal processing
  • Electronic Noise (Wet Noise) (Analytical and Capillary) IPAD (Au electrode) < 30 pC at 10 mM KOH, DC Amperometry (GC) < 5 pA at catecholamine eluent
  • Potential Range   -2.0 to 2.0 V in 0.001 V increments
  • Signal Range (Digital and Analog) Integrated Amperometry: 0.0008 pC to 200 μC
  • DC Amperometry: 0.00008 pA to 74 μA
  • Cell Body Titanium body with narrow-bore PEEK inlet tubing for capillary format, titanium inlettubing for analytical format. Compatible with 0.2–0.6 mm i.d. columns (PEEK inlet), 2–7 mm i.d. columns (Ti inlet)
  • Working Electrodes: gold, glassy carbon, platinum, and silver
  • Reference Electrode pH-Ag/AgCl combination, one piece design (Analytical and Capillary)
  • PdH, one piece design (Capillary Only)
  • Autoranging Yes
  • Analog Output User selectable full scale of 10, 100, or 1000 mV
  • Cell Volume at Working Electrode < 0.2 μL
  • Maximum Cell Operating Pressure 0.7 MPa (100 psi)
  • Detection Modes  DC amperometry, pulsed amperometry, and integrated amperometry. Detection modes include use of multiple waveforms and multiple integration times to optimize detection conditions for individual analytes. Integrated amperometry mode—unlimited changes to the waveform profile’s number of segments, duration of each segment, and voltage applied at each segment.

    Submitting a Quote:

    To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A contractor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register. Vendor must also include their DUNS# on their quote.

    Also, to be eligible, all vendors must be NDAA 889 Certified. If they do not currently have a NDAA 889 Certification, then they must complete the attached NDAA 889 Certification form and submit it to [email protected] so that they can be added to the list of NDAA 889 Certified vendors.

    The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting contract.  

    Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote on SF 1449 (see attached). The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase.

    Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please email all quotes in writing on the SF 1449 to [email protected] by no later than Tuesday, September 17, 2021 at 12:00 PM Central Standard Time.

    Questions in regards to this combined synopsis/solicitation must be submitted through email and are due no later than 2:00 PM CST on Friday, September 24, 2021. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation.