Non-Volatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) Analysis

The U.S Department of Transportation, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Cambridge, MA, is supporting the development of an International Engine non-volatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) standard, including project resource management and data processing. As part of this support, the Volpe Center is performing the analysis of Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) filters of particulate matter (PM) acquired during National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA)/German Aerospace Center Multidisciplinary Airborne Experiment (ND-MAX). The Volpe Center will utilize the support of a subject matter expert (SME) in the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) proprietary TEM analysis methods (TAM) and Cataloging of Particle Properties (CPP), to develop the relationship between engine conditions, fuels and the resulting particle properties. Under the authority FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b) the Government intends to award a Purchase Order on a sole source basis to Pennsylvania State University located in University Park, PA. The NAICS Code for this procurement is 541380; the Small Business size standard is $15.0 million. Notice: Interested firms must submit a written capability statement to the above named point of contact providing clear and convincing evidence of the firms' capability to provide the required services. Written capability statements must be submitted within seven (7) calendar days from the date of publication of this synopsis. Responses received after seven (7) calendar days or without the required documentation will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered. Such documentation will be utilized solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. The Government will not pay for any documentation provided in response to this synopsis and documentation received will not be returned to the sender. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses received to the synopsis, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephone calls made in place of the required documentation will not be accepted.