Statement of Requirement
The University of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified proponents to submit a proposal for a Gas Chromatograph Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (GC-qqq-MS) system with automated injection system for 100+ samples/ sequence required by many members of our chemical and environmental toxicology specialization program. The system will have the analytical sensitivity and precision required for analysis of environmental pollutants and urinary metabolites to assess hazards from industrial emissions and from occupational exposures by workers. These analyses require extremely low limits of quantitation of these metabolites for toxicological assessment, otherwise results are insufficient for a proper toxicological assessment. It is critical the system be able to detect ultra low quantities of PAC metabolites in urine. The system should be of the same calibre or better than used by the accredited laboratory in Quebec City (Institut national de santé publique du Québec/INSPQ) for analysis of poly aromatic substances in human populations. Ref: Ratelle, M. et al. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in urine samples collected in a subarctic region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Environmental Research, Vol 182, 2020, 109112.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109112. This document is available through Open Access.
The system will be used to measure and quantifying ultra low level analytes. The system should be compromised of a gas chromatograph with inlet, pneumatic switching device, backflush kit, automatic liquid injector, large sample tray, a triple quadrupole MS/MS selective detector with a high efficiency Electron Impact source, computer workstation, system acquisition software, and post acquisition software and spectral libraies,on-site training, including method development training to set-up system for intended use outlined in section 1.2, software upgrades, preventive maintenance, repair/parts warranty with support service located within Canada.
General Description:
The system must be capable of ultra low level analysis of poly aromatic compounds in urine and environmental matrices using mass spectrometry and MRM technology. It should be of the same calibre or better than used by the accredited laboratory in Quebec City (Institut national de santé publique du Québec/INSPQ) for this same analysis, see Table 1: Ratelle, M. et al. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in urine samples collected in a subarctic region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Environmental Research, Vol 182, 2020, 109112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109112. This document is available through Open Access.
The system must include a gas chromatograph (GC) with fast oven. The GC must not be a Quick Connect platform.
The inlet must be multimode. A full electronic pneumatic control system. There must be a pneumatic switching device, backflushing, and gas saver features that do not compromise performance of the system.
There must be an automatic liquid sample injector and sample tray. The injector must be capable of pre and post injection rinsing. The system must include a triple quadrupole MS/MS selective detector and must have a high efficiency Electron Impact source. The proponent must include a computer workstation, system training, method development session, software upgrades, preventive maintenance (including: parts/labor/travel), warranty, and repair service (including: parts/labor/travel)..
The equipment will be located at University of Ottawa, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology. There are gas supply lines and ventilation located close by. Electrical requires a buck booster to stabilize power supply, this will be provided and installed by University of Ottawa Facilities Service.
Specifications listed in Appendix A – Technical Specifications Compliance Form of this RFP are the mandatory minimum requirements for the Gas Chromatograph Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer: (GC-qqq-MS).
Should any equipment included in a proposal be superseded by a newer model during the period of time between the award of contract and the delivery date, the successful Proponent will be required to inform the University of Ottawa of the new specifications, the newer model pricing will remain the same as what was offered in the RFP. At its sole discretion, the University of Ottawa may opt to make changes from the list of equipment by altering, adding, or deducting some equipment.
No. Description
1. Gas Chromatograph
1.1. Must include fast heating oven with ramp rate: 120 °C/min, 450 to 50 °C within 5 minutes.
1.2. Must be able to accommodate column dimensions (50 – 530 um).
1.3. Must not be a quick connect column system.
2. Inlet/Pneumatic System
2.1. Inlet must be multimode with cooling option.
2.2. Must include injection modes: (hot and cold) split/splitless, pulsed split/splitless, solvent vent, and direct inject.
2.3. Must include electronic pneumatic control system.
2.4. Column flow control modes: must provide constant pressure, ramped pressure, constant flow, or ramped flow.
2.5. Must include pneumatic switching device.
2.6. Must include back flushing mechanism.
3. Mass Spectrometer
3.1. Must include a triple quadrupole detector with high efficiency electron impact source.
3.2. Must have a minimum scan rate of 20,000 u/s.
3.3. Must be capable of simultaneous SIM/SCan mode.
3.4. Must have a minimum mass range of 10 to 1050 m/z, resolution of 0.4 to 4.0 Da.
3.5. Must have a mass axis stability <±0.10 u.
3.6. Must have a minimum dwell time 0.5 msec.
3.7. Must have a MRM speeds of 800 transitions/sec.
3.8. Must have a collision energy adjustable in the range of 0 - 60 eV.
3.9. Must be capable of a source temperature up to 350 °C.
3.10.1Must be capable of manual and automatic tuning.
4. Injection System
4.1Must include an automatic liquid injector.
4.2Must include sample tray capable of holding 100+ samples.
5. Computer & Software
5.1. Must be a Windows 10 configured computer with internet capabilities (WIFI), with 2 monitors.
5.2. Must have minimum 32 GB RAM, large capacity SDD (2 TB) /HDD (8 TB).
5.3. System acquisition software, must be the most current at time of shipping.
5.4. Data analysis software (includes deconvolution, quantification), must be the most current at time of shipping.
5.5. Must have retention time / peak alignment features in software.
5.6. FeihnLib™ metabolomics database, must be the most current at time of shipping.
5.7. Environmental pollutants MRM database, must be the most current at time of shipping.
5.8. NIST™ volatiles/semi-volatiles database, must be the most current at time of shipping.
5.9. Wiley™ database, must be the most current at time of shipping.
6. Warranty/Preventive Maintenance/Service
6.1. Must have standard warranty.
6.2. Must have telephone and on-site support during warranty period.
6.3. Must include 1 preventive maintenance visit (includes: parts/labor/travel).
7. Training
7.1. Must include on-site training for 2 users.
7.2. Must include method development training, 2 days.
8. Installation
8.1. Must include on-site installation.
8.2. Must include delivery costs to site.
