Salient Characteristics - FTIR 3 (1).doc

Salient Characteristics

Commercial Availability Certification:

I have evaluated the commercial marketplace and determined that all of the salient characteristics documented below are available in products/services offered in the commercial marketplace.

Signature (typed name): After Contract Award Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The Contractor shall provide one (1) research-grade Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer System that has the following minimum specifications, or equivalent:

System Requirements:

- Shall be equipped with gold-coated optics throughout the primary optical path to ensure a minimum threshold of maximum infrared throughput.

- Shall support a minimum of five (5) distinct, internally-mounted detector positions, including dedicated locations for a sample compartment detector, a liquid-nitrogen cooled detector, an FT-Raman detector, and a permanently integrated Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) accessory detector.

- Shall include a built-in, dedicated single-bounce Diamond ATR sampling module that operates independently and does not require removal or reconfiguration of the main sample compartment to use as part of the main spectrometer.

- Shall feature a fully automated, motorized beamsplitter exchange mechanism capable of housing at least two (2) beamsplitters simultaneously, allowing continuous software-controlled switching across spectral ranges without exposing hygroscopic optics to the environment or breaking the instrument purge.

- Shall utilize a dynamically aligned, non-air bearing Michelson-type interferometer capable of achieving spectral resolution better than 0.09 reciprocal wavelength (cm⁻¹).

- Shall have an interferometer covered by a minimum ten (10)-year manufacturer's warranty.

- Shall have a helium-neon laser reference source that is a user-replaceable module that allows for replacement of the laser head and power supply without exposing the main optical bench to the external environment.

- Shall provide a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 55,000:1 peak-to-peak, measured at 4 cm⁻¹ resolution in the 2200-2100 cm⁻¹ region after a standard 60-second sample collection time

- Shall exhibit a wavenumber precision of at least 0.01 cm⁻¹ across the spectral range, guaranteed by the stability of the reference laser without requiring post-collection software correction.

- Shall include a multi-zone purge pneumatics system and properly sealed optical window kits to maintain a dry, stable environment across the spectrometer, microscope, and external accessories.

- Shall incorporate a motorized, internal validation wheel containing, at a minimum, NG-11 glass for linearity checks and a NIST-traceable polystyrene film standard for performance verification.

- Shall have a spectrometer that features physical, single-press "one-touch" buttons located at each sampling station (e.g., main compartment, integrated ATR) that automatically configure the instrument's entire optical path and select the appropriate pre-set experimental parameters for that station.

- Shall include a beamsplitter (e.g., Germanium-on-Potassium Bromide) capable of covering a minimum continuous spectral range of 7,800 cm⁻¹ to 350 cm⁻¹.

- Shall include a solid-substrate Far-IR beamsplitter capable of covering a minimum continuous spectral range of 700 cm⁻¹ to 50 cm⁻¹.

- Shall include a liquid nitrogen-cooled, high-sensitivity detector (e.g., MCT-A with CdTe window) capable of operating across a minimum spectral range of 11,700 cm⁻¹ to 600 cm⁻¹.

- Shall include a room-temperature detector (e.g., DLaTGS with polyethylene window) capable of operating across a minimum spectral range of 700 cm⁻¹ to 50 cm⁻¹.

- Shall include the necessary motorized, external beam routing mirrors and assemblies required to direct the infrared beam to specialized external measurement accessories and the integrated microscope.

- Shall include a fully integrated, research-grade infrared microscope capable of precise micro-analysis of targeted sample areas.

- Shall include a microscope that features its own dedicated, integrated high-sensitivity liquid nitrogen-cooled detector (e.g., MCT-A) optimized specifically for microscopic sample areas.

- Shall include a microscope equipped with visual observation optics, including a minimum 40X Long Working Distance (LWD) objective.

- Shall include a certified stage micrometer for validating the positional accuracy and step size of the motorized microscope stage.

- Shall include a microscope with a visual system with a Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) optics to guarantee the ability to visually target features on samples with low natural optical contrast or high reflectivity.

- Shall include a microscope with a high-precision Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) objective with a Germanium tip for highly localized surface analysis.

- Shall include a motorized, software-controlled variable-angle specular reflectance accessory capable of analyzing thin films, mirror-like surfaces, and optical coatings at exact, repeatable angles.

- Shall include an external Mid-IR integrating sphere with dedicated mid-band detector configured for upward sample placement with a minimum 20 milimeter (mm) sample port, specifically designed to collect diffuse hemispherical reflectance from scattering, rough, or non-specular materials.

- Shall feature a minimum three (3)-inch (76.2 mm) diameter integrating sphere with a gold-coated, Lambertian scattering inner surface for optimal energy throughput that includes a physical specular exclusion port allowing the operator to isolate and measure only the diffuse component.

- Shall route the optical signal directly to a dedicated, direct-interface detector (e.g., MCT or DTGS) mounted directly onto the integrating sphere assembly to maximize signal-to-noise ratio.

- Shall include a motorized, software-controlled rotary polarizer mount and matching high-efficiency Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) infrared wire-grid polarizer element that fits entirely within the sample compartment, enabling precise, automated rotation in discrete 1-degree steps across a minimum spectral range of 5,000 cm⁻¹ to 650 cm⁻¹ without opening the compartment or breaking the internal instrument purge.

- Shall include a dedicated accessory capable of variable angle specular reflectance analysis that supports a continuously selectable minimum angle of incidence range from 30 to 80 degrees in a minimum of 1-degree increments that is run with a fully motorized software control and automated mapping.

- Shall include a fully sealed, purgeable optics enclosure with integrated purge tubes to eliminate atmospheric (water vapor and CO2) interference during measurements. Must include a set of specular reflectance sample masks with apertures of at least 2-inch, 5/8-inch, and 3/8-inch Software Requirements:

- Shall be Command & Control available directly from supplied PC workstation(s) and monitor(s).

- Shall have software control of all aspects of the spectrometer, automated beamsplitter exchanger, motorized microscope stage, variable-angle reflectance accessory, and motorized polarizers from a single user interface.

- Shall support pre-configurable template files that automatically align the spectrometer, select the appropriate beamsplitter/detector combination, and set spectral resolution/scan parameters based on user-defined workflows.

- Shall have software that drives automated microscope stage to execute line scans, area maps, and discrete multi-point analyses, with the ability to overlay infrared chemical maps directly onto high-resolution visual images.

- Shall have complete suite of baseline correction, smoothing, normalization, advanced spectral math, and multi-component search/deconvolution tools.

- Shall include the capability to continuously monitor laser alignment, source intensity, purge quality, and detector temperatures, providing automated system validation checks in accordance with standard laboratory quality assurance guidelines

- Shall include pre-packaged, comprehensive ATR spectral libraries containing standard chemical signatures tailored for security, forensics, and general material identification.

- Shall have software that provides full, native support for reading, processing, and reporting legacy data files, including single spectra, spectral series, and mapping data files generated by previous versions of the manufacturer's software (e.g., OMNIC file formats).

- Shall be delivered with a comprehensive system qualification and performance validation documentation package to formally verify the instrument's operational parameters against established factory and laboratory standards.

Training Requirements:

- Shall have factory training and technical support in the US available.

- Contractor shall perform complete on-site installation, system alignment, and full performance validation using traceable standards to verify all specifications are met within the end-user's laboratory.

- Contractor shall provide a minimum of two (2) days of dedicated, hands-on operational training at the installation site for at least three (3) primary operators.

- Shall include training curriculum that covers system startup/shutdown, software control, routine maintenance, execution of all specialized reflectance accessories (variable-angle and integrating sphere), and all modes of micro-analysis (targeting, mapping, and ATR).

- Shall include a minimum of 12 months of direct application support to assist with experimental design and method optimization.

Security Requirements:

- Shall provide a Support Engineer who is a US Citizen

Contracting Officer:

Template last updated 07/28/2016