Enclosure 4 Evaluation Criteria - X-Ray Sorter.pdf

Attachment 2 – Technical Evaluation ANL-830 March 10, 2025

Enclosure No. 4 Evaluation Criteria

04/24/2026

I. Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the Argonne National Laboratory approved Procurement policies based on the Evaluation Criteria set forth below:

II. Overall Relative Importance of Proposal Parts

The Technical Proposal is of greater importance to the Price Proposal and Business Management Proposal. While the Price Proposal and Business Management Proposal may not be the controlling factor for the award, they will be a significant part of the Laboratory’s selection decision. The Laboratory shall select for an award based on the principles of best value tradeoffs. The best value is expected to result from selection of the highest technical acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated proposed cost. It may be in the best interest of the Laboratory to consider award to other than the offeror with the lowest evaluated proposed cost if the perceived technical advantages of a higher evaluated proposed cost proposal merit the additional higher proposed cost.

III. Evaluation Criteria

CRITERION 1 – Technical Approach Basis for Evaluation: Evaluation will specifically consider the Offeror’s demonstrated capability to design, manufacture, and support X-ray Transmission (XRT) based sorting systems that can be flexibly trained by the user for multiple feedstocks, such as ores, minerals, and lithium-ion battery feedstocks, including detection accuracy, throughput, system reliability, and technical risk based on the requirements listed in the Statement of Work, “X-Ray Transmission Sorter” dated December 16, 2025.

Required Submittals:

• Technical description of proposed XRT sorter, including X-ray source type, detector technology, sorting mechanism, and response time.

• Performance data including throughput, recovery, purity, and detection limits.

• Capabilities to process ores, minerals, and lithium-ion battery feedstocks.

• Description of automation, controls, data outputs, and open interface access as required by

SOW.

• Description of user programmability, algorithm modification capability, and data interface openness.

• Identification of technical risks and mitigation.

• Software/algorithm validation, version control, and accessibility for researcher-led modifications.

CRITERION 2 – Environmental Safety and Health Basis for Evaluation: The Lab will evaluate the Offeror’s Environmental Safety and Health (ESH) Program to ensure compliance with the technical requirements associated with the specifications, drawings, and other requirements of this procurement. Particular attention will be given to:

• Radiation safety and shielding o Radiation leakage shall not exceed: 0.5 mR/hr at 5 cm from any external surface under maximum operating conditions

• Compliance with applicable X-ray regulations, 21 CFR 1020.40

• Lithium-ion battery fire and thermal risk mitigation

• Equipment safety interlocks and guarding

Required Submittals:

• Radiation survey reports. These could be:

o Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) radiation survey o Site Acceptance Test (SAT) radiation survey o Measurement methodology and calibration records

• Radiation safety plan, including shielding and compliance with X-ray regulations

• Radiation leakage testing documentation and acceptable range confirmation

• Certified compliance documentation

• Lithium-ion battery thermal/fire mitigation documentation

• Safety interlocks and guarding specifications

• Cybersecurity compliance statement per SOW (software/firmware)

• Remote-access disclosure and controls

CRITERION 3 – Quality Assurance Basis for Evaluation: The Lab will evaluate the Offeror’s Quality Assurance (QA) Program to ensure compliance with the technical requirements associated with the specifications, drawings, and other requirements of this procurement. This may include the evaluation of quality though such as having the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them (including, as appropriate, such elements as production control procedures, property control systems, quality assurance measures, and safety programs applicable to materials to be produced or services to be performed by the prospective contractor and subcontractors).

Required Submittals:

• Quality Management System documentation or manual (table of contents acceptable).

• Evidence of QA processes including production control, calibration, and safety programs.

• Relevant ISO certifications such as ISO 9001 or calibration standards (e.g., ISO 10725).

• Health physics standards applied to equipment handling and radiation systems.

CRITERION 4 – Record of Past Performance Basis for Evaluation: Special consideration will be given to demonstrated successful delivery, commissioning, and operation of XRT or comparable sensor-based sorting systems in mining, mineral processing, recycling, or battery applications.

Required Submittals:

A list of three (3) contracts in the past five years that have been awarded to the Offeror of approximately the same dollar magnitude as Offeror’s proposal, that have been completed and are as similar as possible in nature to the requirements covered by the technical specifications.

The list should provide the following information for each contract:

• Contract Title

• Date of Installation

• Client’s Name and contact information (optional)

• Contract Amount (optional)

• System information including (belt width, X-ray source type and parameters, detector type, design throughput)

• What is being sorted with that system

• Quality of the sorting results (including purities achieved at what throughput)

• Ability to meet contract deadlines

• ***It shall be noted reference-checks may be conducted.