FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) Integrating Sphere and components

BACKGROUND
This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) from industry to help determine the availability and capability of small business and other than small businesses that are capable of providing any or all of the products and services required by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST is conducting market research to identify potential sources that can provide an FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) Integrating Sphere and components system that meets all technical specifications, inclusive of FOB Destination delivery requirements, and installation and onsite training, identified in this notice. 

This notice is strictly to request information for market research purposes to help NIST determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for this requirement. This notice shall not be construed as a solicitation, an obligation, or commitment by NIST.

The Flammability Reduction Group in the Fire Research Division (FRD) at the NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL) provides measurement data and material property information generated in fire and thermal analysis experiments using a suite of thermal and analytical tools to measure how materials and products interact with thermal radiation from fires and fire-like environments. The EL seeks to obtain a FTIR [Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy] including an Integrating Sphere, light source, and external detector for making reflectivity and transmission measurements and related sample and sphere mounting accessories. The vendor shall also provide a computer and software to run experiments, analyze measurement data, and identify polymers/materials based on recorded spectral signal, as well as provide installation and onsite training for NIST personnel. Optional requirements exist as three additional one-year performance periods for the vendor to provide a US-based technician for telephone and repair service on the FTIR system and an annual onsite preventative maintenance (PM) visit.

OVERVIEW
The Flammability Reduction Group uses a suite of thermal and analytical tools to measure how materials and products interact with thermal radiation from fires and fire-like environments.  The data from these tools is essential for fire modeling and understanding material and product flammability behavior.  This data is used for many research projects within NIST that are focused on reducing the fire hazard of building contents and constructions materials in the Fire Risk Reduction in Buildings and Communities program. A critical instrument in this suite of tools is an FTIR Integrating Sphere. This instrument consists of an infrared radiation (IR) source and detector compatible with an Integrating Sphere. Such an apparatus is used to measure the total and wavelength-dependent transmittance and reflectance of individual materials and components. These properties directly control the heating of a material when exposed to infrared radiation produced in a fire environment (e.g., from nearby flames or the hot smoke/gases that accumulate in a compartment fire). 

The Contractor shall provide a FTIR Integrating Sphere and components, quantity one (1), in accordance with meeting the following minimum specifications:

Line Item 0001:
Description: FTIR, to include Integrating Sphere, light source, and detector for reflectivity / transmission measurements.

A.    Technical Specifications:
1.    Gold plated Integrating Sphere
a.    Range: 400cm-1 to 14,000 cm-1
b.    Purgeable (i.e., filled/purged with controlled gas atmosphere)
2.    Mercury cadmium telluride (MCT), Detector
a.    Range: 600 cm-1 to 10,000 cm-1
3.    FTIR Source
a.    Minimum Range: 350 cm-1 to 8,000 cm-1
4.    Near IR Source extension
a.    Minimum Range: 500cm-1 to 15,000 cm-1
5.    Sample Holder
a.    Sample Size Requirements:
i.    Max area/diameter: At least 40 mm by 40 mm
ii.    Max Thickness: >/= 7mm (transmittance measurements)
b.    General:
i.    Ability to support samples in downward configuration (below sphere) to allow for testing of charring/brittle samples such that residue would fall safely downward away from sphere.

B.    Additional Required Products: 
1.    Computer and software to run experiments, analyze measurement data, and identify polymers/materials based on recorded spectral signal. 
a.    Data processing features are to include: 
i.    Automated atmospheric correction (water vapor and CO2) in Mid IR 
ii.    Normalization, baseline correction, derivative calculation and spectra subtraction
iii.    The ability to interface with python scripts to define methods to programmatically save, prepare, parse, and analyze measurement data.
iv.    The power outlet compatibility of the FTIR Integrating Sphere and components shall be 120 VAC.

Optional Requirements:
Additional 1-year of coverage of additional service and support as described below. The option to increase quantity for up to an additional 3 years of service and support shall occur in 1-year increments as CLINs 0002, 0003 and 0004 respectively, if exercised. 

Line Item 0002, 0003, 0004 (optional items): 
Description: Additional service and support to include the contractor having a US-based technician available for repairs and support on the FTIR Integrating Sphere and all components.
A.    Requirements:
•    During the optional periods, if exercised, the Contractor shall provide telephone and remote technical support during normal business hours, and on-site service and replacement of any defective equipment or software. 
•    Telephone calls and emails shall be returned by the Contractor within two business days.
•    During the optional periods, the Contractor shall provide yearly preventative maintenance visits (on site) with planned maintenance parts/components

WARRANTY
The contractor shall provide a standard commercial warranty, in accordance with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specifications, for all equipment (except as otherwise stated) for a minimum period of one year after acceptance.

The contractor shall provide a standard commercial warranty for a minimum of five years for the Mid IR detector and the interferometer. The warranty shall cover costs for all parts (excluding consumable items), labor and travel.  Only new OEM certified parts shall be used in the repair and maintenance of the instrument.  The vendor must have the ability to provide replacement parts (at cost, if needed) for a five-year period. The warranty shall commence upon acceptance of the FTIR and integrating sphere by the government. During the warranty period, the Contractor shall provide telephone support during normal business hours, and on-site service and replacement of any defective equipment or software. Telephone calls made after hours shall be returned by the Contractor not later than the next business day.

ANTICIPATED DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Delivery of the FTIR Integrating Sphere and components system shall be F.O.B Destination and shall occur within three (3) months After Receipt of an Order (ARO) to the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD. Delivery shall be made to the NIST Shipping and Receiving address, located at 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001. Installation and onsite training is required by the Contractor to be completed within three (3) months after award. 

INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM INDUSTRY SOURCES:
NIST invites industry sources to review this notice carefully and to familiarize themselves with this Source Sought Notice.  Thereafter, NIST encourages those sources to submit the following:

•    Company Summary:
1.    Notice ID and its Title for this posting
2.    Your company’s name, address, website address and Unique Entity Identifier (if the company has one)
3.    Company point of contact, their phone number, and their email address
4.    Your company’s size status as it relates to NAICS 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.  See table of business size standards at https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards for more information. 
5.    Indicate whether your company has an active registration for procurement purposes in sam.gov.

•    Place of Manufacture/Origin: Please identify whether the potential product is manufactured in whole or in part in the United States. If it is manufactured outside of the United States, in whole or in part, pleas identify the country of manufacture. 

•    Existing Contract Vehicles: Indicate whether your company has a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract or other federal contract under which NIST would be authorized to place an order, and if so, provide a copy of that contract (including contract number, name and contact information for contracting officer, contract SOW, contract terms and conditions and contract prices).

The Government reserves the right to follow up on a one-on-one basis with respondents to request additional information or clarifications about information submitted.

THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. NIST WILL NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RESULTS OF THIS MARKET RESEARCH. REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE PROVIDED

SUBMMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Interested parties shall submit responses to by the closing date of this notice to hunter.tjugum@nist.gov.

•    Microsoft Word (or PDF) document, and 11 or 12-point font.
•    Submission shall not exceed five (5) pages. Any cover page OR Standard Commercial Pricing Sections is not included in the total page count.
•    Respondents are requested to state their capabilities and expertise in clear and concise language.
•    Respondents are strongly encouraged to avoid use of excessive marketing and sales language.

Cover Page
Respondents shall include the following Business information on the Cover Page:

1.    Sources Sought Notice number, title, and date of issuance
2.    Unique Entity ID
3.    Company Name
4.    Company Address
5.    Company website address, 
6.    Company Point of Contact, Phone, and Email address
7.    Validation of business status under NAICS: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. See table of business size standards at https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards for more information. 
8.    Indicate whether your company has an active registration for procurement purposes in sam.gov.

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of NIST.

NIST does not intend to award a contract based on responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this notice, NIST may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ).

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NIST shall arise because of a response to this notice or NIST’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation

Confidentiality
Do not include proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information in response to this notice. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary information as it deems appropriate in establishing requirements for its upcoming acquisition.

DISCLAIMER
This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to help NIST assess alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received and other market research, NIST may publish a solicitation on SAM.gov or on GSA ebuy, depending on the acquisition strategy chosen by NIST. NIST will not consider proposals submitted directly in response to this notice for award. Responses received after the closing date for this notice may not be considered for market research purposes.