The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center (ERDC), Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) intends to issue a sole source award to LECO Corporation (CAGE Code: 94174) to procure one (1) SC832HT-MC (Carbon Sulfur Analyzer) from LECO Corporation. The equipment being requested must be able to analyze powders for the composition of CO2, CO, and SO2. The materials of interest include portland cement, limestone, hydrated portland cement concrete, hydrated calcium silicate concretes, calcite, etc. The equipment must meet all of the unique specifications required by the government. The unique specifications for the equipment are as follows:
• Must not include software or hardware subscription.
• 230V / 60 Hz electrical supply.
• Must include 2 years of preventative maintenance to following the first-year warranty to extend service to a total of 3 years.
• Instrument must be capable of performing an analysis for sulfur and carbon elements within two minutes.
• Must be able to perform analysis on samples that weigh 0.25g or less.
• Must be able to evaluate carbon content on organic and inorganic samples without the use of acids or other liquid chemical reagents.
• Instrument must be a high-temperature combustion instrument using infrared absorption detection compliant to ASTM Standard D-4239, D-5016, D-1552, or D-1619, and ISO 15178 and 19579.
• Instrument must have dual-range detection using two infrared cell detectors for sulfur and have manual range selection or auto-selection capabilities controlled by the operator.
• Instrument must be able to reach temperatures of at least 1500 °C eliminating the need of combustion accelerators for most refractory samples.
• Instrument must be capable of performing analyses on macro samples up to 350 mg in a reusable ceramic sample container. Sample sizes may vary depending upon the sample density, concentration, and methodology requirements established by governing bodies (i.e. ASTM).
• Instrument must have the ability to remove sample ash residues post-analysis, eliminating ash build-up within the furnace and avoiding furnace maintenance and flow restrictions.
• Instrument software must dynamically display average, standard deviation, and relative standard deviation for sample replicate sets while archiving all data and offering user-defined filters.
• Software must have flexible, user-defined, customizable instrument display and reports offering tabular and plotting reporting options.
• The instrument must have a Pause/Delayed Start function that allows automatic start up, and equilibrated at any time selected by the user, allowing the system to be ready any time the user defines.
• The instrument software must contain real-time service diagnostics with a 30-day storage buffer including ambient charts of instrument temperatures, pressures, and detector signal; manual control of solenoids and switches; and network and communications diagnostic.
• The instrument software must contain an automatic system check that verifies internal network communications, solenoids and switches, system pressures, furnace control, and temperature.
• The instrument software must have user-definable counters to aid in the tracking of routine maintenance procedures and reagents or other expendable components.
• The instrument software must have user-definable display fields supporting text or numerical entries with ability to perform automatic calculations based on the elemental results.
• The instrument is manufactured in the United Stated of America. All sales, support, and service are directly from the manufacturer and not a third-party distributor.
• Instrument must come with display and computer.
The unique characteristics stated above as well as the combination of requirements for small sample sizes (0.25 grams or less), the ability to perform analysis on organic as well as inorganic samples without the use of acids, and the ability to remove sample ash residues post-analysis appears to be only available on models from the LECO Corporation. Thus, LECO Corporation is the only vendor that can provide the required equipment that can meet the government’s exact specifications.
Therefore, the Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed price award through GSA to LECO Corporation (CAGE code: 94174) in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B). LECO Corporation is a large business concern under the applicable NAICS code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,000 employees. This notice of intent is for information purposes only.
This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals. A solicitation will not be issued. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor’s ability to fulfill this requirement. The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each.
Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses to this requirement may be submitted to Jennifer Hoben at Jennifer.Hoben@usace.army.mil no later than 1:00PM CST Friday, 22 November 2024.
