Notice of Intent to Sole Source to Micromeritics Instrument Corp for the Procurement of a High Performance Gas Pycnometer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, GA, hereby announces its intent to solicit and enter into a contract with Micromeritics Instrument Corp located in Norcross, GA, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The CDC is looking to procure High Performance Gas Pycnometers. The CDC requires a laboratory instument that will measure the true density of powers and dusts.

The laboratory requires 0.02% measurement accuracy, 0.01% repeatability and a 5 to 60*C operating temperature range for a gas pycnometer. The AccuPyc III 1350 is a high-performance gas Pycnometer. The instrument provides a true volume, and by further weighing, the density measurement of solids, powders and slurries in less than 15 minutes per sample. This enables efficient laboratory test sample throughput.

Temperature control is stable to within +/- 0.025*C and a sample measurement temperature may be selected between 4 and 60*C. This adequately covers the anticipated temperate range the CDC will require for measurements. Measurements are accurate to within 0.02% and repeatable to within 0.01%. This is the highest performance Pycnometer currently available and will provide high quality measurement data, as well as meet the required salient characteristics.

This high level of accuracy significantly reduces experimental uncertainty where particle density plays a role in particle sedimentation. The powder safe mode is a highly desirable function to this device as the intended use will mostly be fine powders, coarse powders, and dusts. Powder safe mode prevents the powder sample from aerosolizing, migrating, and contaminating elsewhere within the instrument when the gas is moving between sample and reference cells during the measurement cycle.

The new AccuPyc III 1350 Pycnometer is available exclusively through Micromeritics, the US-based manufacturer of the instrument.

This pycnometer is the only one source reasonably available to meet the following criteria required of a pycnometer to meet the CDC’s needs: provides an accuracy of 0.02%, precision of 0.01% and operating temperature range of 5 to 60° C. This notice of intent is not a request for competivitve quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within the issuance period of this notce will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is soley within the discretion of the Government. Information recieved will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurment. Any quotation/response should be emailed to Lena Torres at dgb1@cdc.gov by 4:30 p.m. EST on September 16, 2024