SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- COHERENT X-RAY SCATTERING MARKET RESEARCH
- Notice Date
- 9/4/2008
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Washington, District of Columbia, 20528, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20528
- Solicitation Number
- DHSRFI081208
- Response Due
- 9/12/2008 5:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 9/27/2008
- Point of Contact
- Kristian Jovanovic,, Phone: 202-254-6071
- E-Mail Address
-
Kristian.Jovanovic@dhs.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 5 September 2008 is the close date for questions. Coherent X-ray Scattering Market Research Solicitation Number: DHSRFI081208 Posted Date: August 12, 2008 Response Date: September 12, 2008 Questions submitted to the RFI: Question #1: Are these services currently being provided by an incumbent? If so, would it be possible to know the vendor name and contract number? Is there a program officer for this project, and if so, what is the contact information? Answer #1: Coherent X-ray Scattering is not currently used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for screening checked baggage in an aviation venue. There are some prototype coherent scattering systems being tested in selected airports in Europe. All questions concerning this RFI should be forwarded to the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer POC listed in the solicitation. An S&T Principal Investigator/Project Manager will be identified in the future for coordination with industry. Question #2: Is S&T interested in a technology that isn't Coherent X-ray, such as incoherent neutron scattering (Associated Particle Imaging)? If DHS would like to review the technology alongside Coherent X-rays we would be happy to respond in detail to the Sources Sought. Answer #2: S&T is primarily interested in Coherent X-ray Scattering because of prototype evaluations and data that have provided a reasonable level of confidence in the technology’s performance, particularly with respect to false alarm rates. This RFI is primarily focused on Coherent X-Ray Scattering Technology. If an interested respondent intends to propose some other technology, for which there is no data from either prototype evaluations or TSA certification, then it is incumbent on the respondent to provide sufficient substantiation or considerable evidence of actual or projected performance of the technology’s ability to meet preliminary requirements to warrant consideration as an alternative to coherent scattering technology. Of particular interest will be special attention to claims of size, weight, throughput, maintenance and detection levels and false alarm rates. Question #3: Is S&T interested in system components or detection technology advances with potential for consideration in the next generation Coherent Scattering System? Answer #3: No, S&T is not interested in white papers for system components. We are interested in prototype systems that may include advances in coherent detection technologies and we are receptive to potential teaming arrangements that explore improved performance capabilities in next generation screening systems. For example, S&T has funded the development of a novel X-ray source based on Carbon Nanotube technology which includes provisions to license the technology to other industry participants under non-exclusive agreements. The spatially distributed multi-pixel x-ray source was recently developed at XinRay Systems. The source can generate x-ray radiation from multiple points on the x-ray anode, either sequentially to produce a scanning x-ray beam or simultaneously. The potential applications of this new source include high speed CT imaging and coherent x-ray scattering. For coherent scattering, this new technology can significantly increase the throughput and simplify the system design by eliminating the mechanical scanning components. It is expected that the new source can provide comparable power and flux as the conventional X-ray sources used in the current systems. Respondents are invited to leverage this source, and/or other 3rd party innovations to develop Coherent X-Ray Scattering based systems with improved performance capabilities. Respondents should explain how they plan to integrate any new or novel technologies and their associated risk mitigation efforts during development of prototype systems for laboratory assessment. Question #4: If I don’t have appropriate facilities at my company for handling explosive materials, what arrangements will S&T offer to enable my company to collect data for detection of threat materials? Answer #4: S&T is considering the development of a standard “set of test simulants” that could be provided to each company that is awarded a contract for development of a prototype system. These simulants could include examples of benign materials that routinely create CT false alarms or are sufficiently similar to potential threat materials to serve as a means to demonstrate system performance and resolution of coherent spectra for laboratory analysis. S&T may consider offering contractors developing prototype systems the opportunity to bring their systems to the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) at Atlantic City International Airport, NJ for basic spectra collection or more extensive data collection using their hardware prior to formal delivery for laboratory assessment. Question #5: Does S&T anticipate establishing standard data formats to facilitate comparison of performance testing results across multiple companies? Answer #5: Yes, S&T is considering establishing a “Coherent X-ray Scattering Technical Coordination Forum” that includes subject matter experts from other Government organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and DOE National Laboratories, Academia, and industry participants that are under contract to S&T for development of prototype systems. This forum would be chartered to develop a broad consensus on the best performance measures or quality standards for evaluating coherent scattering spectra from prototype systems for laboratory analysis. Question #6: Does S&T anticipate providing coherent spectra for known explosive materials? Answer #6: Yes, S&T intends to provide an initial data package with the Technical Requirements Document (TRD) that includes spectra of threat and non-threat materials from various instruments with differing levels of resolution. Question #7: Does S&T anticipate providing awardees under the BAA with the Government’s laboratory assessment test plan? Answer #7: Yes, S&T will coordinate with all awardees for cooperative development of the general laboratory assessment test plan so that awardees develop their performance data package to substantiate readiness for delivery to the Government. Each vendor will be required to provide substantiation of the performance of their system prior to admission for testing and assessment. Question #8: When would any potential contracts under the BAA be awarded? Answer #8: S&T anticipates requesting submissions of proposals in late October or early November 2008 and subsequent award of any potential contracts in early 2009. Question #9: What volume of machines would be expected to be procured in the future? Answer #9: Any future procurement actions will be determined solely by the Transportation Security Administration and are not directly related to this project. Question #10: What is the criteria and timing for production procurement? Answer #10: See answer to Question #9. Question #11: Should alternative systems be included in the CXS response or submitted separately? Answer #11: See answer to Question #2. Question #12: With which EDS systems would the CXS be expected to operate? Answer #12: As stated in the RFI Section 1.3, CXS systems could be used to identify explosive materials in checked baggage or carry-on baggage, including alarm resolution as a secondary EDS device. Therefore, it should be assumed that any future CXS system deployed in an operational security screening venue should be capable of interfacing with any EDS system through a standard interface to be specified by the Government. However, the ability of prototype CXS systems to operate with multiple EDS systems is not one of the primary objectives for laboratory assessment under this project. Current EDS specifications will be referenced in the TRD to ensure any prototype systems delivered to the Government for lab assessment are consistent with TRL 5-6. Questions #13: What configurations are envisioned for the system? In-line, standalone, or in search room? Large airports, small airports, or both? Answer #13: Any company submitting a white paper in response to the RFI should clearly indicate which configurations and associated performance tradeoffs their prototype systems could be effectively deployed under. Question #14: Is the research program purely investigative? Answer #14: If the intent of the question is to determine if any future production program exists, see the answer to Question #9. The RFI is being issued to ascertain the level-of-interest and capabilities of private industry to develop prototype systems suitable for laboratory assessment by the Government. The answer to Question #5 above also indicates S&T intends to use this project to advance the state-of-the-art and knowledge associated with coherent X-ray scattering technologies for aviation screening applications. Question #15: Is the required throughput of 300 bags/hr unbiased, i.e. not tied to the false alarm rate of an upstream system? Answer #15: Yes. See answer to Question #13. Question #16: Is there an expectation of higher throughput possibilities? Answer #16: Yes, 300 bags/hr is generally considered a minimum throughput but higher rates are not desired at the expense of increased false alarm rates. Question #17: What are the expectations for the system footprint, dimensions? Answer #17: The RFI Sections 1.5 and 1.6 state CXS prototype systems would be delivered to Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) for lab assessment and potentially transferred to Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new T&E center (TSIF) for pilot testing and should be compatible with current TSA checked baggage x-ray system size and weight constraints. Question #18: What tunnel opening size is required? Answer #18: See the answers to Questions #12 and 17. Question #19: Is the system expected to detect in all categories at present certification standards? At Manhattan II standard? Answer #19: For the purpose of lab assessment of prototype systems, the current certification standards used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be considered. Companies may identify and explain any potential improved performance for future standards being considered by TSA in their white papers and the necessary technology or algorithm maturation investments that would be necessary. The Government reserves the right to perform any additional assessment testing at its own discretion, independent of specific TSA detection requirements. Question # 20: We are interested in the RFI for Coherent X-ray Scattering Market Research and wondered if the RFI extends to UK companies/Universities or is it restricted to US organisations only? Answer #20: Section 1.6 of the RFI indicates in the note that only original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies that develop and produce explosive detection systems or subsystems will be eligible to receive a copy of the SSI TRD. U.K. companies that have U. S. affiliates that meet this criteria or establish teaming agreements with U.S. based OEMs are welcome to participate during this phase of the program. Question #21: We are considering the RFI on Coherent X-ray Scattering for possible participation. However, our experience is that U.S. citizenship is not a prerequisite for receiving SSI. Your RFI Section 1.6 states that "United States citizenship is a prerequisite to viewing SSI" in regard to this effort. Since our x-ray Center of Excellence is in Germany, can you please clarify how SSI will be applied to this effort and verify that U.S. citizenship will be a requirement to view SSI. Answer #21: We anticipate the Technical Requirements Document (TRD) will carry the SSI security caveat to fully identify the anticipated requirements of the desired prototype systems. Because of the potential for coherent X-ray scattering as an enabling new detection technology, S&T specified the restriction of U.S. citizenship as a prerequisite for receiving SSI during this phase of the program. However, Foreign Nationals who wish to have access to the TRD will be required to complete a Foreign National Access Request form and a non-disclosure agreement. This information will be used to determine suitability and need to know for access to the TRD. Please see answer #20 for possible teaming arrangements that also apply to receipt of SSI materials.
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