Retention idex data of organic compounds

THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability of all responsible sources, including large, non-profit, foreign, and small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business), Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Minority Institutions experience, with expert knowledge in the area of performing services for Retention Index data of organic compounds. Objective/purpose: The goal of this project shall consist of obtaining of new reliable gas chromatography retention index data (GC-RI) data with the compound identification information, and experimental data attached to the RI data, and distributing an error-free GC-RI database of organic compounds. At a minimum, the contractor will be required to perform tasks such as the following: The tasks described below shall be completed concurrently through the base period and each option period. Task 1: The contractor shall search for literature references with RI data on polar and non-polar gas chromatography columns in scientific journal, web and private collections; Task 2: The contractor shall abstract all available information associated with the data source, chemical identity and measurement conditions when presented in publications/private collections; Task 3: The contractor shall examine the data collected from literature and other open sources. Task 4: The contractor shall include the data into the GC-RI Database (GC-RI DB) , such as complete citation, compound name, compound formula, RI data, CAS Registry number, chemical structure, and all chromatographic conditions affecting the measurements, namely column dimensions, column coating, column thickness, temperature, gas-carrier, and flow rate; Task 5: The contractor shall evaluate newly added data to the GC-RI DB by comparing them to the related data in the NIST Retention Index Database (RIDB), and to the estimated values in order to identify and correct errors and annotate conflicting measurements. Task 6: The contractor shall meet with NIST personnel at NIST Gaithersburg MD, and discuss GC-RI data once per year. This will consist of up to eight weeks of work at NIST with NIST personnel. During the visit to NIST Gaithersburg MD, the contractor shall discuss all classes of errors found on the retention data (such as compound related, GC column/instrument/operator associated, data processing errors, and data formatting errors), the possible cause of errors, and the ways leading to the elimination of these kind of errors for the future. The anticipated Period of Performance will be a base year plus four (4) one-year options. The contractor qualifications will be a minimum of the following: Shall have a degree in chemistry or physics, 3 years of experience with obtaining and interpreting RI data, and one-year experience in developing and maintaining databases. Any organization responding to this sources sought shall possess the capabilities to provide the services of North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 541990 all Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. The size standard for NAICS code is $7.0 million. Potential sources possessing the capabilities to perform the aforementioned services are encouraged to respond to this notice and provide the following information: 1. Detailed narrative describing the company/organization's current capabilities that are directly relevant to the work described in this sources sought notice; 2. Description of each similar project completed by your company/organization as a prime contractor or as a significant Subcontractor with the past three (3) years, including as much of the following information as possible: (a) dollar value of the contract; (b) brief description of the technical requirements of the project; (c) contract type used on the project (e.g., firm-fixed price); (d) duration of the project from start to completion; and (e) name, address, point of contact and phone number of the customer organization for which the work performed; 3. Current socio-economic status of your company as it relates to (NAICS) Code listed above; 4. Indicate whether your company currently has an active registration in the Central Contractor's Registration (CCR) at www.ccr.gov. 5. Provide all NAICS codes for which your company is identified in CCR; and provide your company's DUNS number. Submit your capabilities by email to: james.cariaga@nist.gov by 12:00 PM EST June 22, 2012. The capability statements shall be no more than 15 pages on 8.5" x 11" paper, with 1" margins and a 12-point, commonly used font such as Courier New, or Time Roman in length. The Government reserves the right to contact any of the submitters to attain further market research/information. This contact may be in the form of phone or email by the Government/Submitter. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT COMMITTED TO AWARD A CONTRACT PURSUANT TO INFORMATION SUBMITTED. PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to james.cariaga@nist.gov BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS June 15, 2012.