NAICS Code: 541711 and the Small Business Size Standard of 500 employees.The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate a sole source purchase order with the University of Toronto, Department of Chemistry located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The US EPA believes that the University of Toronto is the only source that is capable of meeting our needs. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry analyses of extracts from aged microcosms will be performed by extracting soil-Fluorotelomer-Based Polymer (FTP) microcosms with an extraction system developed by the University of Toronto and their research group. Ideally, the extracts then are spiked with a short-chain FTP, custom synthesized for this purpose by the University of Toronto research group, as a matrix internal standard. Spiked extracts are plated onto MALDI plates, again using a methodology developed by the University of Toronto research group. These plates are subjected to MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry to characterize the structural changes of FTPs over time - this analytical capability of the FTP also was developed by the University of Toronto?s research group. The analyses requested are at the outer limits of the scientific forefront. Essentially each of the required steps to complete these services has been newly developed by the University of Toronto?s research group and we believe they are the only source capable of performing this project. The period of performance is expected to begin September, 2011 and will continue for approximately 18 months. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required analysis should fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing within 10 days of the date of this announcement. The intent of this synopsis is to determine if any other sources exist. A Request for Quotation (RFQ) is not available at this time. Consequently, any response(s) failing to provide the necessary information for the Contracting Officer to determine capability will not be honored. If no affirmative responses are received within 10 days of this notice to determine whether an alternative qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, a purchase order will be issued to University of Toronto. Submit your response via email to
[email protected] Telephone calls will NOT be accepted. A draft statement of work can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/oamrtpnc/q1100154/i ndex.htm