ID08160116_Amendment_001_20170403.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ID08160116

AMENDMENT 001

The below responses are provided to all interested vendors questions. Please refer to attached revised Performance Work Statement (PWS) dated April 3, 2017; changes are indicated with a straight line on the right side of the page:

Question 1: PWS para 1.5.1.5 The NAP pre-lens will be capable of operating at pressures up to 100 mbar and include a port for differential pumping. Please describe the desired function of operating the analyzer at pressures up to 100 mbar while the system is balanced for a maximum pressure of 25 mbar. Note that e.g. it is possible to balance the analyzer such that a pressure of 10-6 mbar is maintained in the hemisphere during venting of the analysis chamber but the capacity of the pumps has to be balanced for such operation (Brown et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 073904 (2013)). Or is this requirement introduced as a safety precaution if a faulty gas inlet system (1.5.1.18) should overshoot or malfunction during operation? If the requirement is based on the latter assumption would the end user accept another solution to prevent these events from occurring?

Government Response: The desired function of operating the analyzer at pressures up to 100 mbar is to study surface reactions under ambient conditions. Yes; this requirement introduced as a safety precaution if a faulty gas inlet system should overshoot or malfunction during operation.

Question 2: PWS para 1.5.1.8 The differential pumping system for NAP will be compatible with corrosive gases (small quantities). Should the low vapor pressure substances mentioned in the list under 1.5.1.18 be provided up to their ambient temperature equilibrium vapor pressures? Some of the listed agents have an ambient equilibrium vapor pressure as low as only 0.1 mbar. Does only one substance have to be delivered to the analysis chamber at a time? What is the requirement for gas flow measurement for these low vapor pressure substances? Should the gas inlet system be manually operated or do all function have to be computer controlled?

Government Response: A minimum of three (3) substances have to be delivered to the analysis chamber at a time. There is no specific requirement for gas flow measurements; however, the system shall have control over the gas flow (i.e, leak valve). Manual and/or computer controlled inlets are acceptable.

Question 3: PWS para 1.5.1.13 The X-ray monochromator will include a shutter with movable X-ray window.

What is the proposed purpose of the shutter? We assume that it is to stop X-rays from impinging on the sample and prevent beam damage. From our experience it is recommended to reduce moving parts in a system in order to increase lifetime and reduce maintenance. An alternative solution is proposed in Newberg et al., Rev.

Sci. Instrum. 86, 085113 (2015), where the beam is stopped in 0.5 s. Would this be a suitable alternative?

Government Response: The proposed purpose of the shutter is to prevent beam damage and stop x-rays from impinging on the sample and prevent beam damage. Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.1.13.

Question 4: PWS para 1.5.1.17 The UV-Source for UPS will provide long-term stability, include a small spot ellipsoidal transfer capillary, and include an integrated micro-valve for the separation of quartz capillary and UHV chamber from atmosphere during maintenance. In our experience, there are several factors that affect the spot size, including divergence of the beam after exit and capillary size. An ellipsoidal capillary would not to our experience affect the spot size dramatically as the light is reflected with the same angle as it impinges the surface inside the capillary. What is the reason for the required ellipsoidal shape of the capillary?

Government Response: Ellipsoidal shape of the capillary requirement was deleted. Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.17.

Question 5: PWS para 1.5.1.18 Gas Inlet System capable of introducing atmospheric gases, reactive species, and chemical warfare agents (e.g. O2, SO2, NO2, H2O2, methanol, H2O, mustard, sarin). Is there a preferred type of gas inlet system? What kind of interface to the gas delivery system is required? Are we as the vendor supposed to include guarantees about the gas inlet performance for toxic materials such as mustard gas and sarin and potential liabilities for these extremely hazardous materials when we do not have access to them?

Government Response: There is no preferred type of gas inlet system. The gas inlet system interface should include metal vacuum seals on exterior portions of the hood to prevent gas leak. The Government recommends interested vendors utilize Dimethyl Methyl Phosthonete (DMP) or other similar simulants to test for toxic materials; the Government will utilize DMP or other similar stimulants to test system for gas inlet performance of toxic materials.

Question 6: PWS para 1.5.1.20/21 The system will include a small UHV chamber for IR incorporated (can be separate from the NAP chamber) with ports for KBr windows, sample manipulator, pumps, pressure gauges, and software. This is to perform photoactoustic modulated IR (PEM) on the sample in reflectance (IRAS/RAIRS) on the sample. The TPD mass spectrometer will include a Faraday/SEM detector, PID controller, and software. Does the TPD/FTIR system part require a dedicated connection to the gas inlet? Is gas exposure only to be indirectly provided through the NAP system part (assuming that the ante-chamber containing the TPD and FTIR has a direct vacuum connection to the NAP chamber)?

Government Response: Yes, TPD/FTIR system require a dedicated connection to the gas inlet. No, gas exposure is not required to be indirectly provided through the NAP system part (assuming that the ante-chamber containing the TPD and FTIR has a direct vacuum connection to the NAP chamber)?

Question 7: PWS para 1.5.1.26 The ion source will be compatible with reactive gases for sputter cleaning samples and charge neutralization. With what gases Is the sputter source required to operate? Is the sputter source required to operate under elevated pressures?

Government Response: Oxygen and Argon are the gases I believe we will use. We do not need to operate this system at near ambient pressure.

Question 8: PWS para 1.5.4.4 XPS measurements are performed on a sputter cleaned Ag sample (excitation:

He-I, He-II) or similar to test the UPS performance in UHV and 10 mbar N2. When taking the cross sections for the UV light and electrons under consideration, it is assumed that a spectrum recorded in the UPS range will be highly dominated by the gas phase material and have a very small or negligible contribution from the surface/substrate. There are a few published spectra using UV light in high pressure (e.g. Brown et al., Rev.

Sci. Instrum. 84, 073904 (2013) and Roy et al., Analytical chemistry 86.8 (2014): 3683-3687) measured well below 1 mbar pressure. What are the expectations for a UV spectrum recorded at pressures closer to 10 mbar?

Government Response: The expectations are to be capable of measuring the contributions of the surface.

Refer to PWS paragraph 1.5.4.4 for revision.

Question 9: PWS para Section 1.5.1.15 We would like to verify, if the “differential pumped NAP monochrometer” stands for the “differential pumped Near Ambient Pressure Xray monochromator”?

Government Response: Yes. Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.1.15.

Question 10: PWS Section 1.5.1.17 Will the UV source be used for UHV only mode or for Near Ambient Pressure as well? Both is possible, we just want to verify.

Government Response: Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.1.17

Question 11: PWS Section 1.5.4.4 This section is about UPS measurement, not as stated about XPS measurement, correct?

Government Response: Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.4.4.

Question 12: PWS Section 1.5.1.18 What are the technical requirements for the gas inlet system? What kind of gas handling (what main components) do you have in mind? Any technical inside of the required gas inlet system will be extremely helpful. How many different gases should this gas inlet system be able to handle? The gas handling system will be located in the hood space, correct?

http://1.5.1.20/21

Government Response: Paragraph 1.5.1.18 response has been moved and incorporated into revised PWS para 1.5.1.8. to include 1.5.1.8.1 thru 1.5.8.6 and 1.5.1.8.2.

Question 13: PWS Section 1.5.1.19 For which system module (XPS module, IR module, load lock module) is this manipulator for?

Government Response: Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.1.19.

Question 14: PWS Section 1.5.3.2 What are the vendors responsibility to integrate the system in the hood space, especially the feedthrough from the hood area into the lab? Any drawings of lab space and hood space will be extremely helpful. Also, which part of the system will be required to be inside the hood space and which parts of the system can be located outside the hood space.

Government Response: The Government shall be responsible for modifications to the existing hood to integrate into the system and have attached two diagrams: 1) Attachment 1, Room Dimensions and 2) EQ-09 Hood Dimensions. A teleconference is scheduled for 4 Apr 17 at 1:00 p.m MDT for further clarifications. Refer to revised PWS para 1.5.3.2.