Provision of a Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) system

Descriptions

Natural Resources Wales is the new organisation that will take on the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales, Forestry Commission Wales and the devolved functions of Environment Agency Wales.Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will, for the first time, bring the management of our natural resources and environment together; it will enable a more integrated approach to achieving Welsh Government’s objectives and will have sustainable development at the heart of its operations, delivering results for the people, environment and economy in Wales.NRW’s Llanelli Laboratory provides an analytical service for the regulator ensuring compliance against various EU environmental directives.There is a requirement at the Llanelli Laboratory for a liquid chromatography size exclusion chromatography (SEC) system for the removal of matrix interferences (clean-up) in organic solvent extracts obtained from various environmental matrices prior to analysis via Gas or Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. The solvent extracts are typically obtained from biota (high and low lipid loadings), marine sediments and soils and are typically analysed for organo-chlorine, organo-phosphate,organo-nitrogen pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers. The system must meet the following requirements:1.The system must allow for the effective removal of interfering compounds such as lipid, grease and elemental sulphur. Removal rates of lipid from a solvent based extract that contains the compounds of interest should exceed 90%2.The system must be modular in design allowing for easy preventative maintenance.3.The system must be fully automated and controlled via a PC running appropriate software to control the LC system.4.The system must be capable of processing up to 30 samples within a 24 hour period.5.The system provided must be free of common interferences such as phthalates.6.The pump provided must be able to pump various solvents including, but not limited to dichloromethane, hexane, ethyl acetate and cyclohexane at flow rates ranging from 0.5ml/min to 5ml/min. The pump must be capable of gradient programming (via the operating software) using a minimum of two solvent channels.7.The liquid auto-sampler provided must be capable of injecting volumes up to 5mls or organic solvent extract onto a semi-preparative LC column. The auto-sampler tray must hold a minimum of thirty 6ml glass vials and a maximum of a hundred 2ml glass vials. The auto-sampler must be capable of automatically detecting the tray size used.8.A fraction collector capable of cooling collected fractions to 4 degrees centigrade and with software programmable collection volumes must be provided. The fraction collector must be able to collect a fraction volume of 50mls.9.An Ultra Violet detector must be provided with the clean-up system operating over a wavelength of 200-600nm.10.The system must be robust and reliable with a proven track record of environmental analysis in a high throughput laboratory, typically processing over a thousand samples per annum.11.A PC with appropriate instrument control software (running with Windows 7 OS) must be provided with the clean-up system. The software must be capable of performing diagnostic tests on all modules and be capable of retaining sample logs ensuring a complete sample audit trail.Prospective suppliers must provide evidence of equipment suitability for the extraction of environmental samples via published application notes and/or journal articles plus appropriate references from laboratory’s using the vendor’s equipment.Expressions of interest in supplying such equipment should include details of all consumables required, plus typical running costs based on a thousand samples per annum. Details of after sales service including maintenance and breakdown contracts must also be provided.Instructions to suppliersIf you would like to be included in the tender stage of this process, please email –Melanie.rodda@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.ukExpressions of interest should be received by noon, Wednesday 5th November 2014.Your expression of interest should state your company name and address, contact details, including email address of lead contact and also a paragraph of what your company's core service is and how it fits with our requirements.