EBSD SSN.docx

NIST-SS24-CHIPS-0002

6640 / 334516

Primary POC: Jenna Bortner (jenna.bortner@nist.gov) Secondary POC: Tracy Retterer (tracy.retterer@nist.gov)

Title: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Analytical Detectors including Direct Electron EBSD

BACKGROUND

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a commercial item solution that meets or exceeds the following draft minimum specifications. NIST intends to install the analytical detectors described here on an existing NIST owned JEOL 7800 SEM in Gaithersburg MD.

1. Direct Electron EBSD Detector

1.1. Energy filtering of incoming electrons to enable patterns to be formed only from electrons within a specified energy range (e.g. only electrons between 9 keV and 11 keV)

1.2. Sensitivity range including at least 3 kV to 30 kV

1.3. Pattern resolution of at least 512 × 512 pixels

1.4. Motorized detector insertion and retraction

1.5. Capable of collecting, indexing, and saving full resolution patterns at rates of at least 85 patterns per second

1.6. Capable of forming images using forward scattered electron contrast

2. EDS Detector

2.1. Silicon Drift Detector with an active area of at least 70 mm2

2.2. Capable of processing count rates of at least 700 kcps

2.3. Motorized detector insertion and retraction

3. Control System

3.1. Single control PC with software that controls the analytical detectors and performs any necessary communication with the JEOL SEM

3.2. Data collection software with the following capabilities:

3.2.1. Control of SEM scan to generate images and stage position to perform tiled acquisitions

3.2.2. Control of all user accessible parameters of the detectors including insertion, retraction, dwell, gain, pulse pile up modes, etc

3.2.3. Collection of maps and line scans for EBSD only, EDS only, and simultaneous EBSD + EDS including the saving of unaltered EBSD patterns at full resolution for all points

3.2.4. Stitching control to allow tiling of multiple fields of view into a single map using EBSD + EDS signals

3.2.5. API interface to allow control of the direct electron EBSD detector with functions to extract individual “hits” and set parameters effecting energy filtering

3.3. Data analysis software (can be separate or integrated with data collection software) must have the following capabilities:

3.3.1. Display of collected data and recorded meta-data (e.g. stage positions, operating voltage, EBSD energy filtering settings, etc.)

3.3.2. Exporting of collected data to non-proprietary file formats:

3.3.2.1. Raw & Processed EBSD patterns to at least one of .tiff, .jpg, .bmp, .png

3.3.2.2. Processed EDS spectra to .msa or text based format

3.3.2.3. Hyperspectral EDS data to a binary or text data cube format

3.3.3. Reprocessing of EBSD maps with using saved patterns

3.3.4. Calculation of EDS spectra from user defined map regions

4. Integration with JEOL 7800 SEM

4.1. Analytical detectors must not interfere with the operation of other imaging detectors when the analytical detectors are fully retracted

4.2. System must operate form 110V AC, 15 A service from a NEMA 15R (standard US plug)

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORRMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response: Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact specialist listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

· Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

· Identify laboratory equipment that your company sells that is of the nature addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice. Include brand name, make, model, and/or other distinguishing information.

· State if your company is the manufacturer of the identified equipment or is a retailer or wholesaler that normally sells the identified equipment. If the latter, indicate whether the manufacturer authorized in writing for your company to sell the identified equipment on behalf of the manufacturer.

· Describe performance capabilities and relevant or beneficial physical and functional features for any equipment you identified to satisfy the NIST-identified minimum specifications described in this notice.

· Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or contain unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your ability to fully participate and indicate why. In such a scenario, please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more inclusive and competitive.

· Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.

· For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

· Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business. See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.

· If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement.

· Describe services that are available with the purchase of the aforementioned equipment from your company such as installation, training, and equipment maintenance.

· Describe standard terms and conditions of sale offered by your company for the aforementioned equipment such as: delivery time after your company accepts the order; FOB shipping terms: manufacturer warranty (including details regarding nature and duration); if available, description(s) of available extended warranty; equipment setup and test; operator and service instruction manual(s); cleanup after installation; and if applicable, other offered services. Provide a copy of manufacturer standard terms and conditions that typically relate to the sale of the specified equipment, if available.

· State whether your company offers facility renovation services related to installation of the aforementioned equipment at its delivery destination, if required per the NIST-identified minimum specifications, and provide description of services. Indicate if your company performs the facility renovation services or typically subcontracts the work to another company. Indicate if your company would be interested inspecting the intended installation site during the market research phase.

· State published price, discount or rebate arrangements for aforementioned equipment and/or provide link to access company’s published prices for equipment and services.

· State whether the aforementioned equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

· Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details.

· If the aforementioned equipment and related services are available for purchase on any existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts against which NIST may be able place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

· Identify any customers in the public or private sectors in which you provided the aforementioned or similar equipment. Include customer(s) information: company name, phone number, point of contact, email address.

· Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for NIST to know as part of its market research for this requirement.

· State if you require NIST to provide additional information to improve your understanding of the government’s requirement and/or would like to meet with NIST representatives to discuss the requirement and the capabilities of the identified equipment.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 16, 2024. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.

Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice.

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!