66--PARTICLE MATTER MASS (PM) GENERATOR

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ), has a requirement for a Particulate Matter Mass (PM) Generator which will be utilized to demonstrate the commercial availability, and the accuracy, precision, and robustness of Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) that measure particulate matter mass and to challenge PEMS that meaure PM to a variety of PM concentrations and compositions that might be encountered in use. The PM Generator shall be an integrated system which can generate a variety of PM components over a range of concentrations. It shall be capable of recording various operational control and monitoring parameters during operation via software installed on a PC. The base requirement will be for one generator with an option to acquire a second generator. Evaluation will be based on the following critical areas: (1) integration and performance of the PM generator to provide an effective and workable computer-controlled system; (2) configuration of the PM generator sufficient to generate 10 to 500 nanometer diameter PM over a concentration range of at least a 30:1 turndown ratio; (3) generation of Pm that has a composition consisting of water, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, at least five (5) semi-volitile hydrocarbons in the range of C14 to C34, and carbon soot; (4) Configuration of the PM generator mixing chamber to maximize uniform mixing and to minimize system contamination; (5) integration of safety and quality control provisions to assure system integrity; (6) documentation to show that all PM generator components meet the requirements for the specified PM concentrations, size distributions, flow rates, and compositions; and (7) description of methods or analytical techniques that are used to assure stable PM generation. The solicitation will be issued as a total small business set aside. The applicable NAICS code is 334513. EPA anticipates award of a firm fixed price contract with delivery of the generator within 150 days of contract award and completion of acceptance testing and training within 14 days after delivery. Solicitation PR-CI-06-10610 will be issued approximately May 31, 2006 and close approximately 20 days thereafter. It will be available on the Internet at www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd. Interested parties are expected to download the solicitation and any subsequent amendments from the web site. Hard copies will not be distributed. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to frequently check the site for amendments. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by EPA in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation. Contract award will be made in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. See numbered note 26.