Ultra-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Notice ID Number: NB682050-26-017161

Title: Ultra-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer

Department of Commerce Advanced Acquisition Planning Entry Number: NA

PURPOSE
The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs.

 

BACKGROUND
The Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group (STCAG) of the Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD) of the Materials Measurement Laboratory (MML) has significant research efforts in the fields of analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry, targeting the forensic science, public health, and homeland security communities. These efforts revolve around the chemical classification, identification, and characterization of relevant compounds, including drugs, metabolites, and explosives.

A major component of these efforts is the Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) program. The RaDAR program provides comprehensive, near real-time analysis of drug residues collected from public safety and public health entities across the U.S. Over the last 24 months the RaDAR program has grown significantly and to accommodate this growth there is a need to increase the qualitative testing capacity of the program. Existing testing is currently completed on two platforms – direct analysis in real time, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DART-MS) and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF). We are looking to expand our LC-QTOF capacity as this platform requires less analyst time and around-the-clock analysis capabilities.  To ensure all methods, spectral libraries, and data processing tools that have been previously developed can be directly translated to a new system, we are seeking to procure an LC-QTOF instrument that is identical to the one currently in use for testing in our laboratory. The system is a Bruker Elute ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with a Bruker Compact quadrupole time of flight mass (QTOF) spectrometer. All necessary data analysis software and a computer needs to also be provided.

This procurement is a brand name or equal to purchase a) Bruker Elute ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with a Bruker Compact quadrupole time of flight mass (QTOF) spectrometry system or EQUAL that meets or exceeds the following  salient requirements:

General Requirements

• The system shall include a benchtop QTOF mass spectrometer and an UHPLC system.
• The system shall include a PC-based data system/instrument controller including operating system, instrument control/data acquisition/data analysis software, and monitor.
• The system shall include an electrospray ionization (ESI) source and have the ability to interface with a direct analysis in real time (DART) source or an atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) source.
• The benchtop system, including UHPLC and QTOF, shall weigh less than 600 pounds.
• The system shall fit on a standard laboratory bench (30 inches deep), with the inlet of the mass spectrometer facing outwards towards the operator. The system shall be no higher than 50 inches tall.

System

• The ionization sources shall be able to be changed without breaking the vacuum of the mass spectrometer.
• The ESI probe shall be capable of liquid flow rates of 1 µL/min to 1 mL/min.
  • The ESI source shall have a vacuum insulated probe and an active exhaust.
• The transfer ion optics shall be designed for high stability and ion transmission efficiency and shall include an ion funnel, stacked ring ion guide, or similar mechanism to provide efficient ion delivery to the mass analyzer.
• The QTOF system shall have a minimum mass range of m/z 20-4,000.
• The QTOF system shall have a resolving power of at least 30,000 full width half max (FWHM) that is independent of scan frequency or mass range and can be used in full scan or tandem (MS/MS) data acquisition.
• The instrument shall have a mass accuracy of 1 ppm root mean square (RMS) or better (with an internal standard), and 2 ppm RMS or better (with an external calibrant).
• The QTOF system shall have a temperature regulated flight tube to help maintain mass accuracy.
• The QTOF system shall be capable of isolation and fragmentation experiments including the following:
  • The QTOF system shall have capability to temporarily exclude an ion while allowing acquisition of MS/MS spectra; increasing the selectivity of co-eluting compounds and enhancing the signal of a selected compound.
  • The QTOF system shall have the ability to exclude background ions on a list and include a list of precursor ions for MS/MS data acquisition.
  • The QTOF system shall be capable of conducting MS/MS scans using a gradient or steps of collision energies within one scan event.
  • The QTOF system must minimally be capable of conducting the following scans: full scan, MS/MS, data dependent MS/MS and data independent MS/MS.
• The QTOF system shall have a syringe pump to allow for automated infusion under data system control.
• The QTOF system shall be capable of detecting 1 pg Reserpine at signal-to-noise (S/N) 100:1 in full scan mode.
• The QTOF system shall be capable of acquisition rates of up to 50 Hz in both full scan and MS/MS modes.

• The system shall be equipped with a standard analytical ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) consisting of a pump, autosampler, and column oven.
• The UHPLC shall be equipped with solvent degassing and be capable of handling flow rates of at least 2 mL/min.

• The UHPLC system shall be capable of mixing organic and aqueous mobile phases at any proportion.
• Manuals for the operation and maintenance of the system shall be included in electronic form.

• The system shall come with a compatible computer system (CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse).

Data System & Software

• Software shall enable feature finding, identification, and classification routines; statistical analyses of untargeted data; quantitation, calibration, and quality control routines.
• Software shall allow complete integration of the liquid chromatography system with the mass spectrometer.
• Ability to statistically compare samples, with by principal component analysis (PCA) analysis, partial least square analysis, hierarchical clustering, and T-test capabilities.
• Recursive sample analysis capabilities shall exist for comparison of multiple samples.
• The software shall allow the user to upload raw data files and detect peaks via a library search.
• The system shall have the ability to output all mass spectral data and all fragmentation conditions, automatically after each run in an open-source format.

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing an Ultra-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer

 that will achieve the objectives identified in this notice.  The NAICS code is 334516-Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

ANTICIPATED REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide a Ultra-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer

 to the NIST Gaithersburg campus.  All are inclusive of FOB Destination delivery.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the information described below, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or Adobe .pdf format.

Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice, July 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET.  Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response. “ID Assigned” is not acceptable.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

• Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice.  For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following:
  • Manufacturer name
  • Model number
  • Technical specifications
  • If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s)

• Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements.  Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response.
  • Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.

• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why.  Please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive.

• State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details, including timeline.

• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

• • Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.

• • If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement. 

• Describe standard terms and conditions of sale offered by your company for the recommended equipment such as: delivery time after your company accepts the order; FOB shipping terms; manufacturer warranty (including details regarding nature and duration); if available, description(s) of available extended warranty; equipment setup and test; operator and service instruction manual(s); cleanup after installation; and if applicable, other offered services.  Provide a copy of manufacturer standard terms and conditions that typically relate to the sale of the specified equipment, if available.

• If the recommended equipment and related services are available for purchase on any existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts against which NIST may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for NIST to know as part of its market research for this requirement.

• State if you require NIST to provide additional information to improve your understanding of the government’s requirement and/or would like to meet with NIST representatives to discuss the requirement and the capabilities of the identified equipment.

IMPORTANT NOTES

This notice is for market research purposes and should not be construed as a commitment by NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  There is no solicitation available at this time.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.

Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s capability.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

After a review of the responses received, a synopsis and solicitation may be published on GSA’s eBuy or SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered an adequate response to any such solicitation(s).

The responses shall not exceed five (5) pages including all attachments, charts, etc.