Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Metrohm - i-Raman NXG 785 S system

This request is for the purchase of a Metrohm i-Raman NXG 785 S system which is a commercial off the shelf (COTS), portable Raman instrument. This acquisition replaces an obsolete, unrepairable Raman spectrometer (from B&W Tek, now owned by Metrohm) to prevent loss of critical analytical capability supporting NMAM method publication and implementation. Modern Raman technology improves sensitivity, reliability, and serviceability while maintaining portability for field-relevant applications. Additionally, this request is for the purchase of one μStat-i M8ONE (Bi)potentiostat/Galvanostat/Impedance Analyzer (EIS). This instrument will support CBMB researchers in ongoing dermal penetration studies using Franz cells by measuring impedance across skin membranes and generating high-quality graphs for publications and presentations. It will replace a single-channel unit and enable researchers to perform up to 16 simultaneous experiments instead of one at a time, significantly reducing experiment time and accelerating the delivery of results. Additional cables and training are provided as part of the package. The vendor will install the instrument, ensure correct operation, and train operators onsite for one day (i-Raman NXG) and 4 hours and online (μStat-i M8ONE EIS) as needed. An existing CDC laboratory desktop connected to the ISLE (CDC Property # 357548) will be used to operate the i-Raman NXG 785 S instrument using the SpecSuite software. The NIOSH request for level III approval for the SpecSuite software has been submitted. The μStat-i M8ONE EIS instrument runs on DropView software which the laboratory possesses currently, but may require an upgrade. It will not require any additional external computer system for operation. The instrument is designated for laboratory use only and will be connected to the current ISLE system.