SOLICITATION NOTICE
T -- TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM) DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEM
- Notice Date
- 6/1/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 334119
— Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- 8-4200063705
- Response Due
- 6/8/2004
- Archive Date
- 6/1/2005
- Point of Contact
- Sharon L. Rice, Contract Specialist, Phone (256) 544-0717, Fax (256) 544-5861, Email Sharon.L.Rice-1@nasa.gov - Janice P. Burrough, Contracting Officer, Phone (256) 544-0317, Fax (256) 544-5861, Email Janice.Burrough@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Sharon L. Rice
(Sharon.L.Rice-1@nasa.gov)
- Description
- NASA/MSFC has a requirement for one (1) each MultiScan 600CW MSC Camera, Gatan FireWire Product Adapter, and Microscopy Suite (Digital/Micrograph), including installation and basic operator training. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Gatan, Inc., 5933 Coronada Lane, Pleasanton, CA 94588, pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source. Competition is impractical for the following reasons: 1. Because adequate information was not available, market research was conducted in accordance with FAR 10.001(a)(2)(iii). The market research disclosed three comparable TEM digital camera systems with charge couple device (CCD) arrays greater than or equal to 1024 by 1024 pixels from different manufacturers. The systems were evaluated to determine suitability for use with the Japanese Electron Optics Laboratory (JEOL) 2000 FXII TEM currently being used by MSFC. Because of the varied nature of materials analyzed at MSFC and the different modes of imaging in a TEM, the most suitable TEM camera must be equally efficient at creating and differentiating contrast in bright field images, dark field images, and electron diffraction patterns. The ability to differentiate contrast from pixel to pixel defines the point-to-point resolution of the acquired digital image. The contrast in a collected CCD image is affected through three main parameters: optic coupling, dynamic range, and CCD pixel size. 2. The optimum TEM CCD camera for MSFC applications was found to require the following features: (1) fiber optic CCD coupling for the most efficient signal transfer to the CCD which allows for a better image collection and prevents bleeding in high intensity diffraction patterns; (2) a large CCD pixel size of 24 microns or greater for a high signal collection capacity which prevents over-saturation of the CCD and washed out images with little detail; and (3) a high dynamic range of 14 bits or greater for the best contrast differentiation, which greatly enhances contrast and clarity. 3. Only Gatan Inc., the sole manufacturer and distributor of the MultiScan 600CW, met all these technical conditions. The other companies analyzed provided only either lens-coupled CCD cameras with small pixel sizes that will lead to poor contrast in low intensity samples and cause bleeding problems in diffraction patterns or fiber-optic coupled cameras, with small CCD pixel size and dynamic range, which will lead to lower contrast differentiation in electron diffraction patterns. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on 06/08/2004. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
-
Click here for the latest information about this notice
(http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=62#110611)
- Record
- SN00595441-W 20040603/040601212137 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |