Stand alone Continuous Dust Monitor (CPDM)

Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Announcement Number: Development of a continuous personal dust monitor (CPDM) for use in underground coal mines Posted Date: 12 July 2012 Original Response Date: 27 July 2012 Classification Code: 66 Instruments and Laboratory Equipment (Underground Mining Dust Monitor) Naics Code: 334516 Contracting Office Address Centers for Disease Control/ Procurement and Grants Office 626 Cochrans Mill Road PO Box 18070- MS POS Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Description This is a Sources Sought Notice to determine the availability of potential large business and small business (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, women-owned small business), for the purpose to complete the development of a stand-alone CPDM that meets the requirements for certification by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for use in underground coal mines. To achieve this goal, the development of the CPDM must undergo several stages of development and testing to ensure compliance with specifications outlined in 30 CFR Part 74. CDC/PGO is looking for, but not limiting to, businesses that have the ability meet the requirements and desired qualifications set forth in the attached sample Statement of Work (SOW). Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM) Background Coal mine worker exposure to airborne respirable dust can lead to the development of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP), which is a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease. In an effort to prevent the development of CWP, federal regulations mandate a maximum respirable dust exposure limit of 2 mg/m3 [30 CFR 2011] and also, require coal mine operators and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to conduct periodic sampling to quantify the respirable dust exposure of coal mine workers. Historically, respirable dust samples have been collected with a personal gravimetric sampling pump and filter cassette, with the filter cassette mailed to the MSHA laboratory in Pittsburgh for analysis [Raymond 1998]. After the filter has been processed, MSHA notifies the mine of the average dust exposure for the sampling shift. Because this process may take up to two weeks, the mine operator and mine worker are not aware of potential overexposures during the processing of the collected dust sample [74 Federal Register 52708 (2009)]. The implementation of real-time dust samplers has been cited as a means to improve the protection afforded to coal mine workers [MSHA 1996]. NIOSH, in partnership with industry, labor and MSHA, led the development of the Personal Dust Monitor (PDM) for over a decade [Volkwein et al 2006]. The PDM utilizes a mass-based measurement system to provide the mine worker and mine operator with real-time data related to the worker's dust exposure, so that corrective actions can be taken if it appears that an overexposure will occur. When development of the PDM began, it was decided by the partnership to incorporate the real-time dust sampler and the miner's cap lamp into one combined unit to minimize the burden of wearing multiple units. The PDM unit was successfully developed and in 2011, was certified for use in underground coal mines by MSHA and NIOSH. On October 19, 2010, MSHA published new proposed respirable dust sampling regulations for coal mining operations in the Federal Register [75 Federal Register 64412 (2010)]. Multiple changes to existing dust regulations were proposed, including the use of a continuous personal dust monitor (CPDM) as the required dust sampling instrument for underground coal mining operations, beginning 12 months after the effective date of the new rule. MSHA conducted public hearings on the new dust regulations and accepted public comments related to these regulations. Since the development of the PDM was initiated, significant advancements in lighting technology for underground mining have been realized. These advancements have resulted in the development of cordless cap lamps that weigh significantly less than the traditional cap lamp and lead-acid battery that was worn on a miner's belt. Consequently, a number of public comments received by MSHA regarding the new dust regulations focused upon the size and weight of the PDM sampler, as combined with a cap lamp in the same unit. Availability of cordless cap lamp technology reduces the desirability of having a cap lamp and dust sampler combined into one unit. Objective NIOSH is soliciting proposals for the development of a continuous personal dust monitor (CPDM) for use in underground coal mines. This sampler should be a stand-alone, real-time respirable dust sampler and not be combined with a cap lamp or any other functions (e.g., mine communications or tracking). Scope of Work NIOSH seeks the development of a CPDM that uses mass-based technology to quantify exposure to airborne respirable dust in underground coal mines. The instrument should collect an airborne dust sample from the breathing zone of the mine worker and be capable of separating the respirable fraction from the airborne coal mine dust. The instrument should also display the within-shift and end-of-shift respirable dust concentrations on a screen that can be readily viewed by the wearer, while also logging the dust concentration readings into an internal data logger for later download into a computer. The collected respirable dust should be deposited onto filter media, which could later be analyzed to confirm the end-of-shift gravimetric concentration reported electronically by the instrument. Part 74 in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines the requirements for coal mine dust sampling devices and can be accessed at: http://www.msha.gov/30cfr/74.0.htm. Specifically, Subpart C of Part 74 defines the requirements for continuous personal dust monitors, including design and construction specifications (74.7) and accuracy and reliability requirements (74.8). Of note, the dust sampler cannot add more than 2 kilograms to the total weight carried by the miner and must be capable of accurately sampling respirable dust concentrations in the range of 0.2 to 4.0 mg/m3. Part 74 should be reviewed to identify all performance criteria required of a CPDM. In addition to the requirements specified in 74.7 (f), the dust sampler performance should not be adversely impacted by exposure to electromagnetic interference resulting from levels generated by new mine communication system components. These levels will be provided by NIOSH upon request. NIOSH anticipates that the development of the stand-alone CPDM will be undertaken in multiple phases, which will consist of: Phase 1 - Development of preliminary design and submission to NIOSH for approval of key components: - Cyclone and flow rate used to obtain respirable fraction - Sample inlet location and design - Technology used to develop mass-based dust measurements - Measurement display and logging capabilities - Weight and size of sampling instrument Phase 2 - Fabrication of prototype CPDM and submission to NIOSH for examination/approval Phase 3 - Submission of test data that shows compliance with performance criteria specified in Part 74 Phase 4 - Fabrication of final version of CPDM Phase 5 - Provide required information/samplers to MSHA and NIOSH to solicit approval under Part 74 as a certified dust sampler for use in underground coal mines Schedule Each phase of the contract will be completed based upon the following timeline: - Phase 1 - two months after contract award date - Phase 2 - two months after NIOSH approval of preliminary design - Phase 3 - nine months after contract award date - Phase 4 - eleven months after contract award date - Phase 5 - twelve months after contract award date Reporting By the end of each phase of the contract, an information summary (e.g., drawings, test data, etc.) and/or instrument (as required by each phase) will be submitted to NIOSH. References 30 CFR [2011]. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 30, Mineral Resources, Part 70. Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, Office of the Federal Register, revised as of July 1, 2011. 74 Federal Register 52708 [2009]. Mine Safety and Health Administration: Respirable Coal Mine Dust: Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM). 75 Federal Register 64412 [2010]. Mine Safety and Health Administration: Lowering miners' exposure to respirable coal mine dust, including continuous personal dust monitors. MSHA [1996]. Report of the Secretary of Labor's advisory committee on the elimination of pneumoconiosis among coal mine workers. Arlington, VA: U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration. Raymond LD [1998]. Coal mine dust sample processing. U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Informational Report 1249. Volkwein JC, Vinson RP, Page SJ, McWilliams LJ, Joy GJ, Mischler SE, Tuchman DP [2006]. Laboratory and field performance of a continuously measuring personal respirable dust monitor. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-145, RI 9669. Minimum Vendor Qualifications 1) Experience in dust sampling instrument design, fabrication, and commercialization 2) Demonstrated continuous mass-based measurement technology 3) Demonstrated experience with government certification procedures 4) Demonstrated experience with developing instrumentation for use in underground coal mining operations Contractors who believe that they posses the expertise and experience to fulfill all of these requirements in the SOW are invited to submit technical and management capabilities addressing each of the areas in writing. Interested contractors should also address whether they can fulfill the requirements via GSA schedules. Please send responses via e-mail to zia3@cdc.gov by close of business on 27 July 2012. Please limit your response to no more than five (5) pages (size: 8.5"x 11" pages, with 1" margins), using Times New Roman 12 pt font or equivalent, and submitted in Microsoft Word 2003 or Adobe PDF formats. Also include information such as: Company name, address, email, telephone number, points of contact, CAGE code, size of business pursuant to North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) and respond to the following questions: (1) Is your business a large or small business (2) If small, does your firm qualify as a small, emergent business, or a small, disadvantaged business (3) If disadvantaged, specify under which disadvantaged group and whether your firm is certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act. (4) Is your firm a certified HUBZone firm (5) Is your firm a woman-owned or operated business (6) Is your firm a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned. All offerors must register on the CCR located at http://www.ccr.gov/index.asp. To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. All information received in this RFI that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses must be submitted not later than 27 July 2012. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for submission is 5 pages. This Sources Sought Notice is being used for informational and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date.