Purchasing specifications

The following are some suggestions of requirements for bid or purchasing documents  

Require that all openings to the tanker be sealed with tamper-evident seals. The seals should be identified with numbers that are recorded on the bill of lading. Inspect the seals before unloading. Require the driver to don the proper safety equipment. 

Put all delivery tests In specifications so that they can be enforced. 

Specific gravity tables for most chemicals are available from the manufacturer (common liquid chemical specific gravity tables are shown in Appendix C). The test results should be recorded for every delivery for future reference. Rather than setting a strict limit on specific gravity, look for major changes from previous shipments. 

Examples of specific gravity requirements for common liquid 

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The advent of a large international trade in methanol as a chemical feedstock has prompted additional purchase specifications, depending on the end user. Chlorides, which would be potential contaminants from seawater during ocean transport, are common downstream catalyst poisons likely to be excluded. Limitations on iron and sulfur can similarly be expected. Some users are sensitive to specific by-products for a variety of reasons. Eor example, alkaline compounds neutralize MTBE catalysts, and ethanol causes objectionable propionic acid formation in the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid. Very high purity methanol is available from reagent vendors for small-scale electronic and pharmaceutical appHcations. 

National Stockpile Purchase Specifications, P-58-R-2, U.S. Dept, of Commerce with approval of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.,June 25, 1981, 4 pp. 

Specifications and Shipping. The colemanite, which is to be used in the production of glass fibers, must conform to the purchasers specifications on Ee and As. Colemanite is available in bags and bulk. 

Specifications. Activated carbon producers furnish product bulletins that Hst specifications, usually expressed as a maximum or minimum value, and typical properties for each grade produced. Standards helpful in setting purchasing specifications for granular and powdered activated carbon products have been pubHshed (33,34). 

Provides a purchase specification to facilitate the manufacture, procurement, installation, and testing of vibration, axial position, and bearing temperature monitoring systems for petroleum, chemical, and gas industry services. Covers the minimum requirements for monitoring radial shaft... 

A specification of the product or service you require which transmits all of the relevant requirements of the main contract (see Purchasing specifications). 

On the importance of the activity, you need to establish to whom is it important to the customer, the managing director, the public, your immediate superior You also need to establish the importance of the activity upon the effect of noncompliance with the planned arrangements. For example, not ordering the correct grade of steel may only delay fabrication if you are lucky but, if not detected in time, may result in the component failing in service. Getting the purchase specification correct is important so this activity should be audited. 

Various UK government authorities and especially The Crown Suppliers were already "fire conscious" and further extended the use of fabrics of reduced flammability, barrier fabrics and barrier foams, with high resilience PU foams in their purchase specifications for upholstered furniture and bed assemblies for use in the Crown Estate, public buildings, hospitals etc. Typically, products were required to meet cigarette and No. 5 wooden crib sources see Table I when tested to Crown Suppliers Tests (5), (6). ... 

T = pipe wall thickness (measured or minimum per purchase specification) t — pressure design thickness, as calculated in accordance with para. IP-3.2.1 for internal pressure or as determined in accordance with para. IP-3.2.2 for external pressure tm — minimum required thickness, including mechanical, corrosion, and erosion allowances W = weld joint strength reduction factor per para. IP-2.2.10... 

Th = header pipe thickness (measured or minimum per purchase specification)... 

The contents of this publication are not intended to be and should not be construed to be a standard of the American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE) and arc not intended for use as a reference in purchase specifications, contracts, regulations, statutes, or any other legal document. 

Document that the distillation equipment received conforms to the purchase specifications. 

Verify and document that the tank conforms to purchase specifications. 

Check and document that the pumps conform to purchase specifications. Connect the pumps to the required utilities and document that the utilities are correct. Tighten flanges and mounts. Fill pumps with oil (if required). Check shock mountings and remove shipping restraints. Calibrate. Check and document all critical process instrumentation. 

Document that the reservoir conforms to purchase specification and invoice. Verify and document that the vessel meets or exceeds the pressure rating (vacuum) specified in the purchase specifications. Perform vacuum hold tests on the tank and document. Acceptance ID tests will vary with the size of the system. A positive pressure test is often done in order to find leaks. Perform and document cleaning procedures used prior to placing the vessel in service. This completes the normal testing done on the tank prior to joining it to the vacuum system. 

Check the quality of materials received against purchasing specifications. 

The quality of materials used shall be confirmed from the purchasing specification and the materials receiving reports. Generally, the use of wooden materials is not recommended. 

Even though full GMP compliance may begin later than receipt of raw materials, it is important to treat raw materials in a GMP compliant manner. Raw materials should be purchased only from suppliers approved by the Quality Unit. For raw materials whose quality is important to conformance of the excipient to compendial or specification requirements, or to performance expectations, the supplier approval process should be a combination of site visit and an evaluation of raw material quality. For other raw materials, it would be adequate to confirm that the raw material supplier can meet the purchasing specification. 

Purchasing specifications include not only performance data, materials, structural details, plot plan considerations, guarantees, etc., but also methods of bid evaluation, applicable unit costs, energy costs and amortization period. A good group of specifications will permit a true cost comparison of competitive towers on an installed, as well as on an operating, basis. Table 6.3 summarizes the normal specifications that should be considered. 

For the acquisition of a new lyophilizer, the FAT comprises a series of tests to ensure that the lyophilizer meets the performance expectations identified within the purchase specifications and are necessary for its intended use. The intent is to measure and verify the performance capabilities of the lyophilizer before shipment to the end user. 

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