RFI_Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy with Raman.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection

Small-Scale (SS) Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) Program

TITLE: FTIR Spectroscopy with Raman Devices ISSUANCE DATE: 01/06/2025

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor a promise to issue an RFP or other solicitation. Furthermore, those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback about its submission, other than acknowledgment of receipt. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is not currently seeking proposals. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the expense of the respondent. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government and will not be returned.

1.0 Background

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to seize an increasing number of opioids at the nation’s borders. Of significant concern is the spike in fentanyl seizures. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is fifty times more powerful than heroin and poses a significant risk to CBP field personnel and the public. To combat this threat and many others, CBP implements a layered enforcement strategy that incorporates a broad range of tools and capabilities essential to the detection and interdiction of illicit materials smuggled into the United States.

CBP, Office of Field Operations (OFO) seeks to purchase handheld analyzers with Raman and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy technology with LowDoseID accessory for use at Ports of Entry (POE). The detection equipment will be used by CBP Officers in non-intrusive testing and can identify a wide range of narcotics, controlled substances, and general organic materials.

The objective of this program is to rapidly and accurately identify and interdict contraband illegally arriving in the United States. The Raman/FTIR analyzer combined with LowDoseID provides improved detection capabilities of illicit drugs and chemicals with the addition of the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) H-kit and screener algorithm enhancements.

2.0 Requested Information

CBP is seeking information from interested vendors that could provide at least one hundred and forty

(140) handheld analyzers with Raman and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy technology and LowDoseID accessory for the Small Scale (SS) Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) program.

CBP seeks information from vendors that can meet the attached requirements or that have alternate system designs to meet the CBP mission requirements. Alternate system designs must meet or exceed the minimum mission requirements and add value to the Government. Vendors should identify these alternate mission requirements with technical rationale of the added cost benefit value to the Government.

Interested Parties should provide a Capabilities Statement and pricing for devices meeting the specifications in Section 3.0 of this document. Also identify any alternative designs that would meet/exceed CBP mission requirements as described below with technical rationale as to the benefits of the alternative design. Identify any requirements that are excessive with technical rationale as to why they are excessive and the benefits of the alternative design.

Responses received from interested parties must not exceed eight (8) pages in length for Capabilities Statement that, in addition to the above:

• Demonstrates the respondent's ability to meet the specifications attached or provide alternate device designs that can satisfy the requirement,

• Identifies any specification that the vendor cannot meet or is not compliant with Industry Standard. In these cases, the vendor shall submit the specification the vendor can meet/is the Industry Standard along with supporting rationale vs that in the non-compliant specification.

• Provides the company name and address, point of contact with phone number and e-mail, business size, DUNS number, and

• Any other pertinent information related to the requirement.

Note: There is no page limit for the pricing information.

Responses are due no later than January 24, 2025, at 11 A.M ET. Responses must be submitted via e-mail in MS Word or Adobe PDF format to contracting officer Aga Frys, aga.frys@cbp.dhs.gov.

3.0 System Requirements

General Requirements - The Contractor shall perform the work necessary for the fabrication, integration, test, delivery, training, logistics, warranty and on-demand support of Handheld Chemical Explosive and Narcotics Analyzers with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy

- Each device shall meet the requirements defined in this Statement of Work/Performance Specification.

3.1. Salient Characteristics:

• Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer:

o FTIR

4,000 cm-1 to 650 cm-1 spectral range;

4.0 cm-1 resolution;

Diamond ATR crystal;

o Raman 250 cm-1 to 2875 cm-1 spectral range;

7-10.5 cm-1 resolution;

Fiber optic probe o LowDoseID Software/Hardware accessory

The LowDoseID software/hardware accessory shall provide the following enhanced detection capabilities to the FTIR/Raman analyzers:

• Identification of Fentanyl, Heroin, and other high priority substances in low concentrations (≈1-10%);

• The user shall have the ability to scan and identify lower dose substances while the LowDoseID accessory is connected to the analyzer;

• Upon completing the analysis of lower dose substances, the LowDoseID Screener software shall display the results in a hierarchical manner. If one or more Alarm items are identified, then only those shall be displayed. If no Alarm items are identified, then the Warning or Clear items shall be displayed;

• Provide the user with additional hazard information concerning the chemical once it has been identified. At a minimum, the additional information shall include chemical descriptions, common synonyms, protective gear required, first aid and fire information;

• Allow the user to choose to conduct scans in Direct mode, Screener mode, or SERS (Type H) mode;

• Users shall have the ability to identify low concentration chemicals in the Screener mode using the H-kit.

• The Screener mode shall allow a user to determine whether a substance of interest is present;

• Scan results shall indicate if a direct scan, screener scan, or a SERS (Type H) scan was performed. The exported scan report shall indicate if a direct scan, screener scan, or a SERS (Type H) scan was performed;

• The LowDoseID accessory combined with the FTIR/Raman analyzer shall weigh no more than five (5) pounds;

• Each LowDoseID accessory shall include twenty (20) Type H kits consisting of twenty (20) SERS (Type H) sticks and twenty (20) 1.0ml vials of Methanol to be used as the solvent for SERS (Type H) low dosage extraction testing.

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall be powered by external AC adapter and by battery (the battery should not be internal to the device);

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall have an operational temperature range of -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C);

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall conform to Mil-STD-810G and IP67 durability standards;

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall have dimensions no greater than 11” x 6” x 3” for portability purposes;

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall have data download capability for both spectroscopic analysis and reach-back support without a CBP Network waiver;

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall be capable of being operated while wearing level A protective equipment;

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall have a weatherproof hard shell protective case that is black in color and includes a charging plug;

• The Raman/FTIR handheld analyzer shall include a second AC charging plug;

• Raman/FTIR Data system and software shall include:

o Software data acquisition, data processing, and interpretation, on the system;

o Internal libraries for common chemicals, toxic industrial chemicals, forensic drugs, drug precursors, white powders, pesticides, chemical weapons of mass destruction, explosives, and United Nations restricted chemicals;

o Internal libraries shall not be proprietary in nature and have the capability of accepting user defined updates;

o The FTIR/Raman software shall not be proprietary to the vendor and shall have the ability to be viewed by CBP support personnel (i.e. CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS)) for reach back support purposes.

• Reachback and support shall include:

o Not less than five (5) years of warranty and support to include library updates and software upgrades as needed.

o On site operational testing of each system shall be conducted prior to acceptance.

o All system documentation shall be provided in both electronic and hard copy.

3.2. System Support Requirements

Training Execution

The Contractor shall coordinate training venues, dates and times with the CBP point of contact listed in Section 6. Each system shall include a two (2) day training session that accommodate not less than twenty officers. Contractor training shall be provided by a certified trainer. Training shall be tailored to CBP operational environments and conducted on Government site. Training sessions shall include familiarization with the software, basic operation, interpretation of data and other software capabilities, and basic end-user maintenance and troubleshooting. Contractor travel costs to CBP training venues shall be included with the purchase of each system.

Maintenance Technician Training

At the Contractor’s expense, the Contractor shall develop and provide a Maintenance Technician Training curriculum, and deliver Maintenance Technician Training, to include classroom and hands- on instruction, an Instructor Guide, a Student Guide, an Operator’s Manual, a Service and Maintenance Manual, and on-the-job training aids. Maintenance Technician Training shall cover all items contained in the Maintenance Technician/Service Manual. At the Contractor’s expense, training shall be performed at CBP’s NII Maintenance &

Logistics Depot located in Lorton, Virginia. Training shall include two (2) Maintenance Technician Training classes for up to four (4) Electronic Technicians per class and provide basic operator and depot level electronic technician repair training pertinent to the equipment to perform corrective repair of subassembly and components and preventive maintenance.

Ownership

All training products (including developmental documents, notes, storyboards, etc.) become the property of the United States Government upon delivery and acceptance by the government. All rights for use, modification, and repurposing of the training in whole or in part shall belong to the Government.

Technical Manuals

The Contractor shall provide a System User's Manual, Maintenance/Service Manual and Contractor Technical Documentation. The Contractor shall provide commercial-off-the-shelf manuals when feasible. Manuals shall be provided with each system with the option of electronic delivery upon request.

System User's Manual

A System User's Manual is required for each delivered unit. The System User's Manual shall contain a description of the system and its operation. System limitations, safety information and other important information shall be highlighted. The System User's Manual shall contain a detailed explanation of each task required during the operation of the system. All operator-level maintenance tasks shall be fully explained in the System User's Manual.

3.3. Life Cycle Sustainment and Support Requirements

The following identifies the life cycle sustainment and support requirements for the System.

Warranty

• The Contractor shall provide warranties for each new delivered chemical analyzer with Raman/FTIR Spectroscopy System along with the materials library and software [updates] for a minimum of five (5) years. Warranty for each system shall begin on the date of operational acceptance.

• The Contractor warranty shall include service, support, hardware, software and library upgrades needed for sustainment and repair.

• Products returned to the Contractor shall be tracked and follow the Turn Around Time requirement. The Contractor shall cover all shipping costs when shipping back to the ILD Lorton Repair Depot

• The contract shall provide the latest software and library updates, user guides, end user troubleshooting guides and training decks during the warranty period.

• Warranty repairs shall cover labor, parts, components, devices, packing, handling, shipping, and other costs.

Turnaround Time (TAT)

Turnaround Time (TAT) is defined as the time, in days, from when the individual serialized piece of equipment repair is approved by the COR to when the equipment is received back to the Government. The Contractor shall provide all the required maintenance and repair services within the required Turn-Around Time (TAT), which is inclusive of logistics time, diagnostic time, fault isolation, waiting or administrative downtime, and corrective maintenance downtime. TAT is defined as the time, in calendar days, from when the individual serialized piece of equipment is received by the Contractor to when the equipment is received and accepted back by the Government. The TAT for each serialized equipment shall be no more than twenty (20) calendar days. The TAT for each serialized equipment shall be calculated by using the following:

The Contractor shall meet or exceed these performance standards while complying with all applicable State and Federal regulations. The Contractor shall notify the Government of any circumstances that would result in longer turn arounds times for the induvial serialized piece of equipment.

Work Completion Form (WCF)

The WCF is a unique form to a specific maintenance event. The WCF shall include the WO number assigned by the Government; a description of the maintenance action performed; identify the failure cause or part if any; a list of replaced parts by part/serial number; usage data or scan count since last maintenance activity. The Contractor shall forward the completed WCF and preventive maintenance documentation (if applicable) to the ILD Maintenance Dispatch Center within 48 hours of maintenance action completion. The Contractor shall provide one (1) copy of the completed WCF to the site supervisor and forward one (1) copy to the ILD Maintenance Dispatch Center upon completion of each required site visit.

4.0. Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, aga.frys@cbp.dhs.gov. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers as an addendum to this RFI on FedBizOpps and/or GSA E-buy. Therefore, questions should not include proprietary or classified information.

5.0. Summary

THIS IS ONLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) to identify sources that can provide handheld analyzers with Raman and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy technology with LowDoseID accessory that meet CBP requirements and associated training, maintenance and warranty. The information and specifications provided in the RFI are subject to change and is not binding on the Government. CBP has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed and release of this RFI should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.