99 -- CHNS-O ELEMENTAL ANALYZER

Purchase of a CHNS-O Elemental Analyzer Contracting Office Address Library of Congress, Contracts Services, Contracts Section, 101 Independence Ave SE LA-325, Washington, DC 20540-9411 Description The Library of Congress intends to purchase through sole source from Costec Analytical Technologies Inc., 26074 Ave. Hall, Suite 14, Valencia, CA 91355, an ECS 4010 Elemental Combustion System, with a 50-position autosampler carousel, WindowsTM-based data acquisition software, and a Sartorius CP2P Microbalance with 1-microgram readability that will be used for research and routine testing of a broad range of Library collection materials, collection housing materials, and collection environments. It is the Library’s understanding that the identified instrument system is the only one commercially available in the U.S. that is capable of meeting the Library’s critical performance requirement for an elemental analysis system that also meets the following needs: It must be a research-grade instrument that can provide for both micro- (< 1-5 mg), semi-micro (5-10 mg), and macro- (up to 50 mg) analyses in one instrument, with all analyses under software control; It must utilize both combustion/chromatographic and multi-detector methods, in which the user can software-select a combination of different combustion methods and connect the chromatographic output to different detectors; Detectors must include a thermal conductivity detector for general chromatographic analysis so that all combustion products are measured, and the chromatographic output must be easy to interface to and be controlled by an external mass spectrometer and data system for conducting stable isotope analysis; It must be capable of using multiple combustion and reaction tubes (size range from 10-30 mm OD) and the pneumatics must allow for easy switch between micro-, semi-micro-, and macro-analyses; It must have at a minimum a 32-bit A/D interface with the ability to upgrade to interface boards for 4 channels for use of 4 detectors simultaneously; It must have an autosampler with at least a 50-position carousel and the ability to upgrade to a purged autosampler to prevent contamination of samples with atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen; It must come with a sophisticated microbalance with 1-microgram readability; It must have a computer and data system that operates under Windows XP. Any other company that, at the time of application, (1) is either legally incorporated as a U.S. business entity or capable of demonstrating through its business plan its intention to be fully incorporated as a U.S. business, and (2) believes its elemental analysis system can meet all the above equipment performance requirements can apply to the Library for consideration.