SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS Combined Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument
- Notice Date
- 7/23/2014
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B130, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1410, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1410
- Solicitation Number
- 14-03409
- Archive Date
- 8/21/2014
- Point of Contact
- Adam C. Powell, Phone: 301-975-2166
- E-Mail Address
-
adam.powell@nist.gov
(adam.powell@nist.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management, on behalf of the Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD) within the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), intends to enter into a sole source purchase order with Malvern Instruments Inc., under the authority of 41 USC 253(c)(1) - only one responsible source - for a Zetasizer Nano ZS Combined Dynamic Light Scattering instrument compatible with NIST's existing equipment. The Nanomaterials Research Group (NRG) of the MMSD relies heavily on dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements to characterize the size and charge behavior, respectively, of engineered nano-scale materials dispersed in aqueous solutions. NRG utilizes DLS in both batch mode (cuvette) and flow mode (on-line detection coupled with asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (A4F). The hyphenated instrumentation provides high resolution separations of complex nanomaterials in aqueous-based media with simultaneous on-line analysis of the hydrodynamic size. Since many metal nanoparticles have strong plasmonic optical absorption, it is critical to have DLS as an on-line detector for Brownian motion-based particle sizing. These measurements are used in the development and validation of methods and protocols published by NIST and in the validation and certification of reference materials used in the marketplace. Fundamental tools utilized to fulfill NRG's mission are a Zetasizer Nano ZS instrument with autotitrator (S/N MAL500892), critical accessory hardware including a gold dip cell (ZEN1002), and palladium dip cell (ZEN1002) for low voltage electrophoretic mobility measurements and a quartz flow cell (ZEN2122), and software to operate the equipment in an on-line mode coupled to NRG's asymmetric flow field flow fractionation system; all of which are manufactured by Malvern Instruments Inc. Basis for sole source: In order to further fulfill NRG's mission, it is necessary to procure a new DLS/ZP instrument (ZEN3600) and software that is 100% compatible and interchangeable with NRG's legacy Zetasizer Nano ZS, which will be run in parallel. If the two instruments are not fully compatible and data and methods are not interchangeable between the two instruments, NRG/MMSD will encounter significant detriment. Specifically: 1.) There will be an increased burden for training & maintenance operations, 2.) Overall reduction in productivity, and 3.) Increased complexity with respect to data analysis and comparison across platforms due to the inability to swap out compatible components and have parallel systems running using identical operating procedures. Market research has indicated that there are no other businesses capable of providing a Zetasizer Nano ZS or an equivalent instrument that is 100% compatible and interchangeable with the legacy equipment identified herein. Malvern does not have any authorized distributors or resellers. The North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The Small Business Size Standard is 500 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 6, 2014, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NIST/AcAsD/14-03409/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, United States
- Zip Code: 20899
- Zip Code: 20899
- Record
- SN03434347-W 20140725/140723234753-9588ca2a0086f1a03b5b22ae70990c99 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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