Sample Handling System (Impinger Bench) for the USEPA, Ann Arbor, MI

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ), National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL), Ann Arbor, MI, and Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division (CPOD) intend to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of the test program for commercial items (section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996), with Horiba Instruments, Inc, Ann Arbor, MI The applicable NAICS code is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing OTAQ has a requirement for the purchase of an alcohol and carbonyl sampling system (commonly referred to as an Impinger Bench) in its Ann Arbor facility in order to collect samples of vehicle exhaust containing ethanol, an additive in gasoline, to meet the regulatory mission of EPA. The Impinger Bench shall be composed of several discrete functional components which together provide the necessary conditions and measurements to perform alcohol and carbonyl sampling from dilute exhaust as taken from the existing Constant Volume Sampling System (CVS). This procurement is for one unit, on-site training, one year warranty (after date of acceptance), and optional four year extended warranty. Major components shall provide: - Heated sampling capability from a dilute exhaust stream - Mass flow measurements of the sample removed from the CVS - A conditioning bath which holds the Impinger flasks and maintains their temperature at a desired set-point below ambient conditions - Data acquisition of critical measurements and communication with existing Horiba CDTCS and MEXA systems The vehicle testing which this procurement supports involves a complex series of actions and events that take place over a specific time frame or "test cycle." The test-cell control and data acquisition computer has the complex task of coordinating the entire test process. This task includes: - Collecting operator input which configures the test for the engine to be tested - Operating the vehicle over a prescribed series of speed and loads - Monitoring the engine for fault conditions - Issuing commands to various pieces of test equipment, including the exhaust analysis system before during and after testing - Monitoring equipment for fault conditions and taking appropriate actions - Collecting data from several pieces of equipment and sensors continuously during the test - Processing a large data set after the test to calculate, report and transmit results In addition to engine tests, the test-cell control and data acquisition computer must perform similar functions on a periodic basis to conduct various diagnostic tests required by regulation. These tests are conducted in order to demonstrate the validity of engine test results. These tasks utilize serial communication throughout the test, to issue function commands, pass information and data back and forth and to monitor the analysis system for proper functioning. As a result, a specific communication structure for commands and variable names, in this case MEXA-LAN is utilized throughout the custom software of the test-site computer system. The new Impinger Bench system must be compatible with the existing Horiba MEXA-LAN system. Based on market research, EPA has concluded that in order for another vendor to be responsive to the solicitation they would have to provide a system that responds to the same extensive set of computer commands that the Horiba - MEXA system responds to. This set of commands is part of the proprietary Horiba MEXA-LAN network protocol. This protocol is associated with Horiba proprietary software imbedded in Horiba MEXA system microprocessors. Use of this imbedded software by another supplier in their products would be infringement upon Horiba intellectual property. Incorporation of a new communication protocol in the existing test control and data acquisition system would be required with any other analytical systems and would require significant additional investment by the government. Replacement of the test host computer system in this test site is neither anticipated nor desired. Replacing the test host computer system would entail considerable cost to the government in the form of labor to debug and completely validate new software at the test site, as well as postpone the performance of ethanol emission measurement for regulatory testing of new and in-use vehicles, and also result in concurrent loss of test function during the implementation process, impacting critical enforcement functions. EPA's market research indicates that Horiba Instruments, Inc. is the only known source able to satisfy the Government's requirement(s) because of the proprietary Horiba Mexa-7000 LAN host communication protocol utilized by existing EPA test site-specific equipment that will not be replaced. This is not a request for proposal. However, any firm believing itself capable of meeting EPA's requirement may submit technical documentation to establish the potential of complying with the specifications. Such documentation must be submitted to the point of contact not later than April 18, 2011. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered only for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis. Please submit your response in writing to: U.S. EPA, Attn: Samantha Fuchs, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, MS NWD-001, Cincinnati, OH, 45268-0001 or via fax 513) 487-2107, or email fuchs.samantha@epa.gov.