NCCOSC RDTE Division, Code D214B, 53570 Silvergate Avenue, Bldg. A33, San Diego, CA 92152-5113

66 -- COMBINATION & MISC LABORATORY EQUIPMENT SOL N66001-97-Q-A185 DUE 080497 POC Purchasing Agent, Ms. Melissa Dolan, Code D222, (619)524-2404. Contracting Officer, Ms. Cindy Frison, (619)524-2354. Note: This is a re-advertisement of RFQ N66001-97-Q-A181 published in the 06/12/97 issue of the CBD. The government has a requirement for a quantity of one (1) each ARGON-FLUORIDE EXCIMER LASER with the following specifications: The laser required is a small argon-fluoride excimer benchtop laser using premixed gas with a low concentration of fluorine to reduce toxicity to personnel. It will be employed as a research tool to illuminate a phase mask which will, in turn, be employed to write reflective gratings into optical fibers. It is important that the laser be easy to use, incorporating an automated filling procedure and requiring minimal laboratory modifications: i.e. use standard electrical power, air cooling, etc. The following are the NOMINAL SPECIFICATIONS for a suitable laser: Wavelength 193nm. Minimum pulsed energy 7mJoules, Repetition rate 0-50Hz, Minimum average power 500mW, Minimum peak power 700KW, Pulse duration<10nsec. It is understood that tradeoffs are incorporated in the design of excimer lasers such that minor differences are possible in both the nominal specifications and the manner in which these specifications are actually measured which might make a laser acceptable for our use even though it does not strictly meet one or more of the nominal specifications. Therefore, the above specifications should be considered as general guidelines only. The following are the CRITICAL SPECIFICATIONS for a suitable laser: Laser gas mixture: The laser must use a small, single canister gas premix such as He/Ne/F2 having an overall concentration of fluorine by volume of less than 0.2% for safety reasons. Mirror lifetime: The rear mirror shall either be designed in such a fashion that it can be easily field replaced or rotated to a new surface area if and when any damage occurs. Alternatively, the mirror lifetime shall be guaranteed for a minimum of one-year, or 5 X 108 pulses. Cooling: The laser must be air-cooled. The use of a small forced-air fan within the laser head is acceptable. The requirement for water cooling is not acceptable. Output Fluence: The minimum beam fluence level shall be 250 mJoules/cm2. It is acceptable to employ optics which are external to the laser to the laser cavity to achieve this fluence level, i.e., a beam reducing telescope. In this case the output beam divergence shall be minimized consistent with best practice. An ideal laser would incorporate the optics into an assembly which can be easily removed and replaced at a later time if this ever proves to be necessary, however, it is also acceptable to provide the telescope optics in an external package such that it can be mounted in the laser output beam via a 1/4-20 threaded hole by means of a standard optical bench rod. The ideal beam cross-section would be nearly circular, and one or more cylinder lenses can be employed to achieve such a beam profile. The specified fluence level shall be achieved over a minimum spot diameter of 2.0mm with efforts made to achieve reasonably uniform illumination within this diameter. Lifetime between Gas Refills: The laser shall be capable of operating continuously at a pulse repetition rate of 50Hz for a period of 167 minutes before requiring a gas purge-refill cycle. The energy per pulse shall not be reduced by more than 20% agter the laser has been operated in this manner. This translates to a minimum of 5 x 105 laser pulses per gas fill. Support Equipment: The laser shall be supplied with a passivated regulator, halogen exhaust scrubbing canister and hoses such that upon receipt all that is required is connecting up to a canister of laser gas to initiate operation. Delivery: Advise as to the lead time. Delivery to made FOB Destination to: NCCOSC RDT&E Div., 53605 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152-5410. Quotations sent via the U.S. mail should be mailed to: NCCSOC RDT&E Div., Code D222, Attn: Melissa Dolan, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152-5001. All quotations not sent through the U.S. mail can be faxed to (619)524-3407. "No RFQ will be prepared or made available for distribution. Award will be based on evaluation of responsive, responsible quotations received in response to this CBD advertisement. Competitive awards may be based on the evaluation criteria stipulated in the Red, Yellow, Green (RYG) Contractor Evaluation System. The evaluation criteria is available upon request. Questions may be directed to Melissa Dolan at (619)524-2404. Facsimile quotations are acceptable and must be received on or before the COB on the closing date stated above. Facsimile quotations may be sent to (619)524-3407." The applicable Standard Industrial Code (SIC) and size standard is: 3826 -- 500 employees. (0196)

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