No Description Provided SUBJECT: GAS SORPTION ANALYZERThis is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in

accordance with the format in FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisitions, as

supplemented with additional information included in this notice. QUOTES

ARE

BEING REQUESTED. Responses shall reference Request for Quotations No.

DE-RQ26-08NT000923 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy

Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, intends to purchase a GAS

SORPTION ANALYZER:

1. Fully automated, two sample port, gas sorption analyzer (performs

measurements of adsorption & desorption of many gases for characterization

of

surface area & pore size distribution of powdered and other porous solids);



complete with standard parts & accessories. (1 each).

2. Win Data reduction Software. (1 each).

3. Vacuum Pump. (2 each).

4. FloVac Degasser; six sample port, flow and vacuum sample preparation

unit

for added degassing throughput. (1 each).

The following specifications are required for the GAS SORPTION ANALYZER:

NETL Researches require an analyzer that is capable of doing both of the

following analyses: B.E.T. surface area and pore volume. The research has

been

expanded to include investigation of other innovative materials for gas

separation looking at optimum materials for various processes separation.

NETL

researchers need to be able to evaluate these materials accurately,

quickly,

and efficiently in determining the best possible one(s).

To be able to do this would require the following instrument

specifications:



A self-contained bench scale instrument that does high quality dual

sample

analyses of both surface areas and pores on powdered and porous materials

in a

short time frame (~8 min or less)

Two stations which are necessary to be run on simultaneous samples with

either of the following combinations:

o B.E.T. & B.E.T,

o B.E.T. & pore size,

o pore size & pore size,

o or pore size and continuous saturation vapor pressure.

multiple techniques are required for measurement of the saturation vapor

pressure.

o a wide surface area range from 0.01 square meters/gram to no upper

limit;

o a pore size range : ~ 3.5 to > 4000 (0.35 nm to > 4000nm),

An all in one small (~ 2 square feet) unit which has self-contained

enclosures since lab hoods may not be available and counter space is also

limited, with built in sample preparation stations capable of flow and

vacuum

out gassing.

The use of a no void analysis which does not require the use of helium

gas.

(NOTE: current concerns regarding the shortage of helium gas, research has

been

instructed if possible not to use helium)

The use of only one gas to operate the instrument, but also need the

option

to select from a variety of gases which includes non-corrosive gases (i.e.

carbon dioxide, nitrogen, butane, etc.) to examine a variety of different

samples.

Versatility to prepare samples either under vacuum or flow conditions.

There will be times when continuing testing (greater than 24 hrs) during

the

work week will be necessary without interrupting the operation. This is

accomplished with liquid nitrogen (available here on site) in a dewar.

Therefore, a dewar elevator will be necessary to bring the dewar up as it

evaporates while maintaining the sample in liquid nitrogen.

The ability to operate the unit connected to a PC or by itself.

A degasser which can do two separate sample preparation techniques on at

least 6 samples. It is necessary to be able to degass six samples, either

individually or all together while each sample can be removed as needed and



another can be placed to be prepared, while running analysis.

o The degassing range: ambient to 400C, in1C increments (with less than

5C

fluctuation).

(It is important to examine various ranges of material exposure and to do

as

many as possible in looking for the optimum material).

An all in one unit outgassing station that can allow

o for adjustable evacuation rates,

o various fittings to accommodate various glassware(i.e. 3 various diameter



stems),

o needle valves to prevent the blowing out of fine powders,

o metal flow tubes to allow for variable depth into the cell,

o flow rate for each station,

o each port should have the ability to be adjusted individually up to 100

cc/min.

Filter gaskets to prevent vacuum system contamination by powdered

samples.

The ability to access the degasser during an analysis to either start or

stop

the flow or the vacuum degassing without interrupting analysis.

touch control panel attached to the unit

built-in microprocessor

o required for guided calibration for optimum performance meeting ISO

requirements.

high-sensitivity pressure transducer that has high stability

o preferred accuracy +/-0.11% with a minimum resolvable pressure 0.016 mm

Hg,

and a minimum resolvable pressure P/Po (N2) of 0.00002).

The apparatus must be capable of using multiple techniques which include

CO2

DFT/Monte Carlo Models (also used here for research), TempComp algorithm

(corrects for evaporation of liquid nitrogen), NLDFT models (for combined

micropore and mesopore distribution); many of these are already used in

current

experimental studies.

o Adsorption and desorption isotherms (linear and logarithmic scales)

o Langmuir surface area (includes slope, intercept, constant, and

correlation

co-efficient)

o Plot of single-point B.E.T. surface area also as function of pressure

o Fractal dimension by NK and FHH methods.

o Micropore volume and surface area by t-plot method:(using Halsey, deBoer,

or carbon STSA equations); other various methods include the following for

mesopore size distribution by BJH or DH method and micropore size

distribution

by MP method.

Consistent solenoid valves.

The ability to check on or calibrate manifold volume.

o Leak-free (10-9 cc/sec) dosing manifold.

RTD coolant sensor for constant void volume required for high accuracy as



coolant evaporates.

The instrument needs to meet the following ISO Standards: 15901-2 which

addresses the acceptable instruments and techniques and 15901-3 which

describes

the acceptable data reduction for pore size analysis via gas sorption.

(Note

that the NOVA is in complete compliance with section 9 which describes the

Static Volumetric method.)

The software for the instrument should allow for secure operation of the

instrument, data acquisition, and report generation. Note that this meets

the

regulatory requirements for electronic records set forth by the FDA and

even

though they are set by the FDA, with current research expansion including

University students, etc, safe electronic records would be a good idea.

DELIVERY: FOB Destination is required (all freight included). The

provisions

at 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Items (JAN 1999) does not apply to this



acquisition. Instead, the following information will be used for

evaluation of

offerors: An award shall be made to the responsible offeror submitting a

technically acceptable quote and offering the lowest evaluated price.

Evaluation is based on best value including cost and ability to meet stated



requirements above. Offerors shall submit descriptive literature and

drawings

detailing features, technical capabilities and warranty data. Technical

acceptability will be determined solely on the content and merit of the

information submitted response to this provision as it compares to the

minimum

characteristics provided above. Therefore, it is essential that offerors

provide sufficient technical literature, documentation, etc., in order for

the

Government evaluation team to make an adequate technical assessment of the

quote as meeting technical acceptability. Price shall be the deciding

factor

among technically acceptable quotes. The North American Industry

Classification (NIAC) is 334516. INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL SUBMIT OFFERS

WITH

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Federal Tax Identification (TIN); Dun &

Bradstreet

Number (DUNS); and remit to address if different. A Firm Fixed Priced

Purchase

Order shall be issued using the Simplified Acquisition Procedures FAR Part

13.

This is a small business set-aside. All offers are due no later than 5:30

p.m.

Eastern Time Zone on September 12, 2008. All quotes must be E-mailed to

Robert.Mohn@netl.doe.gov and Christina.Myers@netl.doe.gov, or if faxing the

fax

must be sent to both Robert Mohn at 412-386-5770 and Christina Myers at

412-386-4604. All technical questions concerning the above item should be

directed to Ms. Christina Myers at 412-386-5756.