Specifications include, but are not limited to: 2.1. The Vermont Agriculture and Environmental Laboratory (VAEL) request proposals for a benchtop automated solid phase extraction (SPE) instrument capable of extracting analytes of interestfrom large volumes of samples. This instrument must fully automate the conditioning, loading, rinsing and eluting of 6 cartridges in 3 hours with minimal operator involvement. The automated SPE instrument must meet requirements in US EPA 500 and 600 series including method 533, 537 and 537.1 for analysis of polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in drinking water. 2.2. Instrument Specifications – 2.2.1. Must meet all requirements of the EPA Method EPA 533/537/537.1 with a demonstrated ability to limit interference to less than 1/3rd the method reporting level for each of the analytes identified therein. Method performance must be documented and fully supported by the vendor2.2.2. Must include a fully supported, established method for PFAS extraction2.2.3. Must have the ability to extract 20 mL - 4 L aqueous samples 2.2.4. Must have the ability to simultaneously extract up to 6 samples with a single instrument2.2.5. Must allow the use of up to 5 different solvents for the conditioning, rinsing and elution ofsamples 2.2.6. Must minimize Teflon® components, using PEEK material in the sample and solvent flow paths2.2.7. Must accommodate cartridges with 1 mL, 3 mL or 6 mL plungers2.2.8. Must be a new instrument (not refurbished)2.2.9. Must separate organic and aqueous waste into separate containers using separate waste lines2.2.10.Must not require operation in a fume hood2.2.11.The vendor must provide installation or support user-installation of the system 2.2.12.Must include all necessary hardware, power cords and cabling, 5 solvent bottles, 1 sample rack and 1 elution rack2.2.13.Must support polypropylene collection vials in 16 x 100 mm format with screw-top lid2.3 Instrument Software Specifications – 2.3.1Must include software that controls the flow rates of solvent and sample in each extraction step of the method and software support to set operational parameters and write methods. 2.3.2The software must allow creation and storage of up to 24 extraction methods and 7 diagnostic methods
