DNDOSBIR QA Post 5_25_12.pdf

Questions and Responses

Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

SBIR FY 12.1 Solicitation: HSHQDC-11-R-00052

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-001 - High Purity Precursor Materials for Growth of Large Single Crystals

1. Is it possible to team with a non-US company in Canada or Europe, as provider of raw materials?

RESPONSE: Yes. However, specific partnerships will be evaluated upon proposal receipt.

The Offerors are encouraged to review the SBIR guidelines, regulations and policies.

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-002 - Embedding of Advanced Search Technique for Detect, Locate, and Track for Pedestrian-based Search

No questions were received regarding this topic.

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-003 - Smart Phone App(s) for Radioisotope Identification Device (RIID) and Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detector (SPRD) Reachback

1. We have a very good miniature radiation sensor approach. It features low cost, miniature, low power, energy resolution, and ideally suited for integration into a cell-phone. Can we submit this?

RESPONSE: The proposed research must be responsive to the topic description.

2. (question was slightly modified) Offeror plans to develop the proof of concept software for a single platform, and then expand to additional platforms of a Phase II program was awarded. Is that an acceptable approach, and what would make the most appropriate Phase I proof of concept OS to begin with: iOS, Android, SymbianOS, Windows Phone, or BlackBerry OS? Or should the decision be deferred until after feedback is collected from the l-3 group?

RESPONSE: The choice of operating system for Phase 1 should be based on the ability to achieve research objectives within the Phase 1 period of performance and best demonstrate proof of concept.

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-003 - Smart Phone App(s) for Radioisotope Identification Device (RIID) and Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detector (SPRD) Reachback (con’t.)

3. (question was slightly modified) Offeror has contact with several RND equipment developers already, but even so it may not be the case that some of the desired RND equipment companies are open to providing an interface control document defining how to communicate with their equipment. Will the Government be able to help request information germane to extracting data from the relevant equipment?

RESPONSE: No.

4. Many agencies have different SOPs regarding reachback procedures that require spectra to be sent to different groups. Of course, the application would be flexible and able to accommodate different agency SOPs, but if there is a particular federal standard for reachback that should be chosen as a 'default' configuration for the application, it might be a benefit. Is there such a standard? Or should the approach be to remain as flexible as possible at the expense of some added complexity?

RESPONSE: No. Some standards of relevance are included with the topic description.

This will be further evaluated by the performer during Phase 1 of the effort.

5. Reachback operation involves emailing spectral data to the JAC (along with other local or state agencies). Additionally, an incident report form of some type is usually included. Would it be of interest to the customer for the data to additionally be transferred to and stored in a secured database hosted by the proposer in addition to the other reachback locations? This would, among other capabilities, facilitate the desired capability specified in (i) of the topic.

RESPONSE: No.

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-004 -Thallium Bromide (TlBr) Crystal Modules for Room- Temperature Gamma Radiation Detection

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-005 - Near-Room Temperature, Low-Cooling-Power Operation of a Large-Volume Thallium Bromide (TlBr) Crystal Detector

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-006 - Advanced Electronics for Scintillators

Please clarify the statement in DESCRIPTION: "......the further supporting electronics are capable to perform digital pulse processing (i.e., 1 ns or better) with high throughput (i.e., greater than 100,000 cps)......" Do you mean data acquisition (DAQ) electronics must be capable of 1 billion samples per second (i.e., Giga Hz digitizer)? or you mean 1 ns timing resolution on scintillator?

RESPONSE: The SBIR research area is looking for 1 ns (or faster) timing resolution from the scintillator electronics.

SBIR TOPIC NUMBER 12.1-007 - Versatile Data Archive and Interfacing System

1. Please specify the data formats for all the required data, including raw data collected from the field (e.g., XML).

RESPONSE: Data will fall into two categories: (1) Structured Data, and (2) Unstructured Data. Structured data consists of formats like XML (e.g., N42). An example of an unstructured data format would be pictures, documents and metadata. The Versatile Data Archive and Interfacing System must be able to process any type of data format whether structured or unstructured.

GENERAL

1. Para 3.6.c(8): Page 17. In addition to addressing GFE facilities and equipment, may this section of the technical proposal also address GFE data? There appears to be no other relevant place in the proposal outline where this topic may be addressed.

RESPONSE: Yes, the Offeror may request a waiver under this section to obtain Government furnished data.