SPECIAL NOTICE
C -- X-RAY GENERATOR
- Notice Date
- 6/28/2017
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B130, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1410, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1410
- Solicitation Number
- AMD-NOI17-03792
- Archive Date
- 7/22/2017
- Point of Contact
- Lynda M Horton, Phone: 3019753725, Patrick K Staines, Phone: (301)975-6335
- E-Mail Address
-
Lynda.Horton@nist.gov, patrick.staines@nist.gov
(Lynda.Horton@nist.gov, patrick.staines@nist.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Notice of Intent The Office of Acquisition and Agreement Management (OAAM), of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), on behalf of the NIST Laboratories, intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with Artep of Ellicott City, MD under the authority of FAR Part 13.106-1(b), as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation(FAR) Part 13 for the procurement of a customer engineered, designed, fabricated, and custom software production and delivery of the an Xray Generator. The Acquisition Management Division (AMD) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to procure the required system under a Firm Fixed Price Purchase. The Dosimetry group of the Radiation Physics Division operates the Vacuum Double Crystal Spectrometer (VDCS) instrument in the Advanced Measurement Laboratory (AML) Building 218/F009. The VDCS is devoted to performing high precision x-ray wavelength measurements in the low x-ray energy range in support of NIST's X-ray Transition Energies Database. Due to high absorption in air, x-ray measurements in the few keV x-ray energy range must be performed in vacuum. The VDCS utilizes two high purity silicon crystals with the lattice spacing measured and tied to the definition of the meter in the international system of units. The spectrometer's arrangement allows the determination of absolute x-ray wavelengths without any external reference by very precise angle difference measurements performed with calibrated precision angle encoders. The VDCS is equipped with a specially designed high power demountable x-ray source that is operated by a special high voltage, high current x-ray generator power supply system. The x-ray tube itself has been custom designed and fabricated at NIST. The power supply system that is referred to by the term "X-ray Generator" is the subject of this procurement. The X-ray Generator includes a high power high voltage power supply and a connected high current power supply to power the filaments of the x-ray source. The two power supplies are controlled together externally to safely ramp the high voltage and to control the current of the filament. To perform high precision (ppm) x-ray wavelength measurements, stability is essential which in turn informs our requirements. The x-ray source needs to operate reliably at constant power with constant x-ray output during scans of the x-ray spectrum with the VDCS. The X-Ray Generator will power the custom demountable x-ray source attached to the vacuum tank of the Vacuum Double Crystal Spectrometer (VDCS). The x-ray tube has been designed and fabricated at NIST. The X-ray Generator includes a high power (6 kW) high voltage (30 kV) power supply to energize the anode of the x-ray source (positive polarity) and a connected high current (20 A, 20 V) power supply to power the filaments for electron generation. The software-controlled interplay between the two power supplies is essential for safe and stable operation of the x-ray source. This connection used to be implemented by a programmable logic device that regulates the ramping of the high voltage on the anode and the current on the filament of the x-ray source. During this procurement, this built in programmed logic must be replaced by higher level programming (LabView code) to provide more flexibility, viz., adjustment of voltage and current ramp-up times and feedback time constants regulating beam current. The x-ray source needs to operate reliably at constant power with constant x-ray output during scans of the x-ray spectrum with the VDCS. These scans are performed in the time frame of several hours at a time ranging up to constant operation of a day or two during which stable operation of the x-ray generator needs to be ensured. Substantial market research has been conducted and has resulted in only one company that has the specialized capability to provide the engineering, drawing, fabrication using both high voltage and filaments, in addition to the specialization to create the software to control the delivered custom engineered and designed xray generator. The combination of the use of both high voltage and filaments in the fabricated xray generator is unique and requires specialized skills to ensure safety, as the two power supplies are controlled together externally to safely ramp the high voltage and to control the current of the filament. In addition, capability to perform high precision (ppm) x-ray wavelength measurements and stability is essential as the x-ray source needs to operate reliably at constant power with constant x-ray output during scans of the x-ray spectrum with the VDCS. Only Artep is identified as the sole capable contractor with the unique necessary electronic engineering skills with specialization in High Voltage and Filaments work, as well as the design, fabrication, and software production to ensure full operability of the delivered custom engineered and designed system. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition 541712, with a size standard of 1,000 employees. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, responses received by July 7 will be considered by the Government.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NIST/AcAsD/AMD-NOI17-03792/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, United States
- Zip Code: 20899
- Zip Code: 20899
- Record
- SN04561573-W 20170630/170628235323-8ef4554f4353f8455902955a6894acb5 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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