Description
This is not an announcement of a solicitation. This is a Request for Information (RFI). The U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL), is requesting information regarding service providers capable of servicing and maintaining chromatographic equipment used for environmental analysis. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for planning purposes only and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately to award a contract on the basis of this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not serve as proposals, bids or offers, which could be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Submission of any information in response to this RFI is completely voluntary and shall not constitute a fee to the Government. The main purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research and determine the organizations capable for future competition. Responding to this notice does not guarantee participation in future U.S. Geological Survey activities. RFI responses will be accepted in hard copy only. No electronic responses, such as email or fax, will be accepted. All proprietary and restricted information provided in response to this synopsis should be clearly marked. Responses should indicate if the service provider is considered a large or small business. Please ensure you have included your email address, mailing address, and telephone number in the body of the response. The information provided should be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate that the service provider understands the nature of the work involved, and has the expertise and resources to successfully perform. All responses are limited to a three to five page narrative on eight and one half by eleven inch paper, using a 12 point font. All responses shall be in the English language. Responses must be received no later than 3:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time, February 27, 2008 to the following address: U.S. Geological Survey Acquisition and Grants Branch, MS204 Attn: Gayle Niles Building 53, Room H1122 Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling Denver, CO 80225 RFI OVERVIEW The USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL http://nwql.usgs.gov/ ) provides environmental analytical services, specializing in trace- and ultratrace-level analyses of water, sediment, tissue and other matrices. The NWQL is seeking a service provider to service and maintain the analytical equipment used to conduct these analyses. The equipment is primarily manufactured by Agilent, but also includes related equipment used for volatile organic analyses produced by other manufacturers (purge-and-trap concentrators, autosamplers, etc.). Perkin-Elmer gas-chromatographic equipment is also included. Although the NWQL has procedures for purchasing new equipment to replace older and outdated equipment on a cyclic basis, some older equipment is still in use, and must still be supported. All equipment must be serviced and maintained in a manner that will minimize downtime because of the large amount of samples analyzed at the laboratory. This RFI will be used to survey the marketplace, identify potential innovative approaches, and gather additional requirements for a Request for Proposals (RFP) that USGS expects to issue in the near future. SUPPORTED EQUIPMENT LIST The following list enumerates the various components and models of equipment to be supported by the service provider. There are approximately 24 chromatographic systems that must be serviced and maintained. Changes are occasionally made to the list of equipment provided to the service provider as equipment is added or deleted due to purchase of newer equipment, expiration of equipment warranties, or changes in NWQL analytical requirements. MANUFACTURER MODEL NUMBER DESCRIPTION Tekmar 14-7200-1C3 Tekmar Solatek 72 Autosampler Tekmar 14-8900-OET Tekmar Velocity Purge and Trap Concentrator Hewlett-Packard 18593B Automatic Injector Module Tower Hewlett-Packard 18594B Automatic Sampler Controller Module Hewlett-Packard 18596B Automatic Sampler Tray Hewlett-Packard 18596C Automatic Sampler Tray OI 4552 OI Analytical 4552 W/S Autosampler OI 4660 OI Analytical 4660 Eclipse Purge & Trap HP 5890A Gas Chromatograph w/Dual ECD HP 5890A Gas Chromatograph w/Dual FPD HP 5890A Gas Chromatograph w/Dual NPD Agilent 59864A Ion Gauge Controller Agilent 59864B Ion Gauge Controller Agilent G1099A 5973N MSD Turbo-Pump w/inert source Agilent G1311A Quaternary Pump for 1100 LC System Agilent G1316A Thermostatted Column Compartment for 1100 Agilent G1322A Vacuum Degasser for 1100 LC System Agilent G1329A Thermostatted Autosampler for 1100 LC System Agilent G1330B Thermostat (Chiller) for Agilent 1100 LC System Agilent G1513A Autosampler Injector Module Tower HP6890 Series Agilent G1530A Gas Chromatograph 6890 w/Dual ECD Agilent G1530N Gas Chromatograph 6890N Agilent G1540N Gas Chromatograph 6890N Agilent G2579A 5973N MSD Turbo-Pump w/inert source Agilent G2589A 5973N MSD Turbo-Pump w/inert source CI option Agilent G2613A Automatic Injector Module Tower 7683 Series Agilent G2614A Automatic Sampler Tray 7683 Series Agilent G2913A Automatic Injector Module Tower 7683B Series Agilent G3172A Agilent 5975B Inert XL MSD w/Turbo-Pump Agilent G3174 Agilent 5975B Inert XL EI/CI MSD W/TURBO Agilent G3174 Agilent 5975C Inert XL EI/CI MSD W/TURBO Gerstel G2617-60503 Gerstel Large Volume Injector (for Agilent GC)(PTV) Perkin-Elmer PE GC Autosystem Perkin-Elmer GC Autosystem w/Dual ECD (not XL) Perkin-Elmer 610 Interface Perkin-Elmer 610 Link Box SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS The supported equipment is physically located at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL), Building 95, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225. The service provider must diagnose the equipment failure and provide all labor, testing equipment, parts, and travel expenses required to maintain the equipment to Original Equipment Manufacturer capabilities. The technicians providing support must have previous training and experience with the supported equipment. INFORMATION REQUESTED Each prospective service provider shall provide the following information: A. General information on the service provider's equipment support capabilities B. A statement as to whether or not the service provider can support ALL the models of equipment in the "Supported Equipment List" above. C. If the service provider cannot support all these models of equipment, state which models of equipment CAN be supported. D. Any additional capabilities, requirements, innovative approaches, or suggestions for providing analytical equipment service support and maintenance.