The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC), Microbial Food Safety (MFS), intends to negotiate solely with Waters Corporation in Milford, MA, to purchase a Waters TQ Detector with accessories. The purchase includes the following items: 1) a Waters TQ Detector coupled to an Acquity UPLC Core system and including the associated computer data system and software (in addition to the basic application software MassLynx 4.1 and its second license MassLynx 4.1 Supplemental, also QuantOptimise for automated optimization and method-set up and TargetLynx for target quantitation), a rotary pump for backing of the turbo pump, a UPLC test column kit with an in-line filter and column manager, installation, and 15-month warranty; 2) a uninterruptible power supply (5.2kV); and 3) a nanoAcquity UPLC Core system with a compatible UV detector (with a nano flowcell kit) and including the associated computer data system and software MassLynx 4.1, a nano UPLC test column, installation and extended warranty from 1 year to 15 months. The UPLC-TQD system will be used for research purposes to develop new analytical methods to determine and identify multiple veterinary drug residues in samples of animal origin. The nano-UPLC system compatible with the TQ detector will be used by the Core Technologies unit to support various research projects at the ERRC. A search of all LC-MS vendors was conducted. Test samples were sent to five vendors (Agilent, Applied Biosystems, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Varian, and Waters) to evaluate their triple quadrupole mass spectrometers in the multi-class, multi-residue analysis of veterinary drugs in samples of animal origin. Only Waters triple quadrupole was capable of fast positive and negative switching (no more than 20 ms delay) in the same time segment and successfully demonstrated this feature, which is highly important in the multi-analyte analysis because positively and negatively charged compounds can be detected in a single analytical run. Moreover, state-of-the-art UPLC and nano-UPLC systems are available from Waters that are both hardware and software compatible with the Waters triple quadrupole. The features of the UPLC and TQD providing 15,000 psi pump pressure capability and 20 ms switching time from positive to negative ionization modes are critical for our applications, and no other vendor on the market can meet those specifications. FSIS collaborators reviewed the results with us and also went through the procurement process, and they also purchased and installed the Waters instrument in their Midwestern Laboratory. Companies with the demonstrated capabilities of providing this instrument must submit a descriptive statement, including descriptive literature, specifically addressing the equipment’s components and availability. The NAICS is 334516. The statement and literature must be submitted to the Contracting Office Address within 5 days of publication of this notice. This is not a request for proposal. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE.

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