A02 Brand Name Determination- Thermal Imaging System Signed.pdf

CUI

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

Thermal Imaging System

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Authority: The ERDC Contracting Office

(ECO) is located at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved: This justification seeks approval to award a firm fixed price contract with a brand name justification pursuant to procedures at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) to procure a Thermal Imaging System to be used for subsurface detection research. This system must collectively be able to measure shortwave, broadband, and longwave spectral infrared (IR) band and must be able to integrate into an existing electro-optical (EO) camera observation system and be compatible with two other IR cameras purchased by ERDC in FY21.

3. Description of Supplies or Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The

ERDC Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) is in need of a precision thermal imaging system consisting of one (1) shortwave infrared camera, one (1) broadband infrared camera, one (1) longwave infrared camera, one (1) compact thermal camera, and one (1) professional thermal imaging software license to be used to support computational thermal modeling validation. The vendor shall provide the following equipment to include shipping/delivery:

Part No. Part Description Quantity

ICISWIR640P-

I-28

ICI SWIR 640 P-Series IR Camera | SWIR USB Camera Fast Video Industrial Calibration 28.5° FOV 25mm EFL 1

Mirage 640 P ICI Mirage 640 P-Series BB | Broadband Fixed Mount Thermal Camera Fast Video Range 20° FOV 27.8mm EFL

ICIFMX640P-

I-20

ICI FMX 640 P-Series IR Camera | LWIR Fixed Mount Network Camera Fast Video Standard Range 20° FOV 30mm EFL

ICI-PIVOTIR

Compact Thermal Camera featuring rotatory lens to provide accurate and intelligent temperature measurement. Rotating menu, 56 Deg FOV, 256x192 resolution, 3.5" touch screen, 16GB of internal memory.

ICIIRFLASH-

PRO

ICI IR Flash Pro | Professional Thermal Imaging Software for running cameras | i5 Processor 4 GB RAM 128 GB HD Windows 8/8.1-10

4. Authority Cited: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g. urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization). There are multiple vendors available on the Federal Supply Schedule which are capable of providing the needed equipment.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The ERDC GSL is in need of a precision thermal imaging system consisting of a shortwave infrared camera, broadband infrared camera, longwave infrared camera, compact thermal camera, and a professional thermal imaging software license to be used to support model validation work with respect to remote sensing and object detection research. The system must also be able to interface with an existing electro-optical (EO) observation camera system purchased in FY21 and expand upon the existing thermal sensing camera system purchased in FY21 to allow for more measurements to be made simultaneously. Only the Infrared Cameras, Inc. (ICI) infrared instruments meet the criteria required to create the required thermal imaging system. These instruments are the only ones available on the market that meet ERDC’s needs; other systems do not meet the criteria.

Specifically, the criteria which qualifies the ICI components over others include:

• The ICI infrared cameras can be integrated into other camera systems (e.g., electro-optical observation systems) as well as the existing thermal sensing camera system purchased in FY21. The integration of these cameras into these two camera systems will ensure system integrity and improve operation performance.

• The following sensor specifications are met by the SWIR 640 P ICI shortwave infrared cameras:

o Operate within the shortwave infrared spectral band (09-1.7 m).

o Offers an affordable, relatively low-cost option, compared with other commercially available shortwave IR cameras.

o A pixel resolution of 640x512 to ensure that the temperature of small surface areas can be detected at a variety of standoff distances.

o A thermal accuracy of 1 C to ensure that minute surface temperature differences can be detected.

o Measurements can be made between -40 and 90 C.

o A 30 Hz frame rate to ensure that imagery can be collected fast enough to capture wind effects surface convection.

o A small size (l x w 1 x h ~29.5 x 46 x 46mm) and 130 g weight (without lens) ensures that it can be mounted on various mobile platforms.

o A InGaAs uncooled focal plane array (UFPA) detector (state-of-the-art) to reduce weight, power consumption (< 1 W), complexity, and cost of the camera.

o Powered and controlled via USB 2.0 allowing multiple cameras to be utilized simultaneously

• The following sensor specifications are met by the Mirage 640 P ICI broadband infrared camera:

o Operate within the mid-wave infrared spectral band (1-5 m), extending 0.5m lower than most equivalent cameras.

o Offers an affordable, relatively low-cost option, compared with other commercially available broadband infrared cameras which can cost more than $80,000.00.

o A pixel resolution of 640x512 to ensure that the temperature of small surface areas can be detected at a variety of standoff distances.

o A thermal accuracy of 1 C and thermal sensitivity of < 0.12 C to ensure that minute surface temperature differences can be detected.

o Measurements can be made between -55 and 350 C.

o A 30 Hz frame rate to ensure that imagery can be collected fast enough to capture wind effects surface convection.

o A small size (l x w 1 x h ~131 x 96 x 111mm) and 765 g weight (without lens) ensures that it can be mounted on various mobile platforms. The weight is approximately four times lower than equivalent cameras.

o A Cooled Indium Antimonide is employed by the camera. This Stirling cooler is heavy duty, allowing it to have a design life that is double that of other available cameras of this class. The camera operates at 12 V DC power consumption, half that of equivalent cameras.

• The following sensor specifications are met by the ICIFMX640P ICI longwave infrared cameras:

o Operate within the longwave infrared spectral band (7-14 m) o Offers an affordable, low-cost option, compared with other commercially available longwave infrared cameras with similar resolution, accuracy, and sensitivity which can cost more than $20,000.00.

o A pixel resolution of 640x512 to ensure that the temperature of small surface areas can be detected at a variety of standoff distances.

o A thermal accuracy of 1 C and thermal sensitivity of < 0.02 C to ensure that minute surface temperature differences can be detected.

o Measurements can be made between -20 and 120 C.

o A Vanadium Oxide (VOx) uncooled focal plane array (UFPA) detector

(state-of-the-art) to reduce weight, power consumption (5 V DC 2 A, < 6 W), complexity, and cost of the camera.

o A 30 Hz frame rate to ensure that imagery can be collected fast enough to capture wind effects surface convection.

o An IP54 rating to ensure that the cameras can operate in dusty environment o An ability to operate in 5 to 95 % non-condensing humidity environments o Can withstand significant shock (75G) and vibration (4G) appropriate to the environments where it will operate o The small size (l x w 1 x h ~157 x 70 x 70mm) and 520 g weight (without lens) ensures that it can be mounted on various mobile platforms. The weight is approximately two to three times lower than most equivalent cameras

• The following sensor specifications are met by the ICI-PIVOTIR ICI longwave infrared cameras:

o A pixel resolution of 256x192 to ensure that the temperature of small surface areas can be detected at a variety of standoff distances compared to 160 x 120 of nearest competitor.

o A thermal accuracy of 2 C < 0.04 °C to ensure that minute surface temperature differences can be detected. 1 C < 0.07°C more accurate than closest comparable product o Measurements can be made between -20 and 550 C (compared to 0 to 400C).

o A 30 Hz frame rate (compared to 8.7Hz of nearest competitor) to ensure that imagery can be collected fast enough to capture wind effects surface convection.

o An IP54 rating to ensure that the cameras can operate in dusty environment o An ability to operate in 5 to 95 % non-condensing humidity environments o Battery lasts 6 hours (compared to 4) with continuous use.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: This acquisition will be posted to the General Services Administration (GSA) to increase competition among interested vendors.

7. A Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Costs to the Government Will be Fair and Reasonable: The independent government estimate, catalog prices, and the laboratory’s technical representative’s knowledge of the industry will be used to determine if the quoted price is fair and reasonable.

8. Market Research: Market research has been conducted for this acquisition utilizing historical acquisition information, review of Government and commercial databases for relevant information and review of other internet sources. The resulting market research found that the equipment required to meet the governments need are commercial items that can only be purchased directly from the manufacturer or Infrared Cameras Inc authorized third-parties.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: N/A

10. List of the sources, if any, which expressed in writing an interest in the acquisition: N/A

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the services required: N/A

I certify that the facts and representation under my cognizance which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification are complete and accurate.

Allison Hudson Contracting Officer