SATPC0039359 Tab 06 RDSS..pdf

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER

RECOMMENDATION AND DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM ONE SOURCE

OR BRAND NAME

PICK ONE

Sole Source:

☒I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with Andor only for: Procurement of the iStar sCMOS Camera (Part Number ISTAR-SCMOS-18U-E4) with 12 months Priority Support (CAP – 12 MTHS) and shipping. The total estimated cost of this effort is and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is within 12 weeks after receipt of order.

OR

Brand Name Justification:

☐I recommend that NASA, NASA Shared Services Center negotiate with only with vendors who can provide the subject band name from Manufacture Name for Enter Supply or Service to be procured. The total estimated cost of this effort is Enter Dollar amount and the estimated period of performance or lead-time for delivery is Date.

This recommendation is for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source/only one manufacture. Competition is impractical for the following reasons (please answer the questions below):

1. What are the reasons for soliciting only the suggested source/suggested brand name? Please provide the unique characteristics of the items or services along with the supporting rationale and the market research performed to substantiate your reason for the suggested source/brand name.

NASA Langley currently has a need to purchase an intensified sCMOS camera that combines several unique features within a single system to enable molecular tagging velocimetry measurements. The specified camera (iStar sCMOS ISTAR-SCMOS-18U-E4) is the best available camera on the market for our application focusing on molecular tagging velocimetry. The low noise floor of an sCMOS camera is highly advantageous for such applications, while the ultrashort exposure times are critical for tracking the gas. Also critical for our application is a single unit for the camera and intensifier with fiber coupling between the intensifier and the camera. More specific reasons for the selected camera include: 1) high pixel resolution of greater than

5.5 megapixels on a monochrome sensor with a small pixel size of 6.5 μm, 2) UV sensitivity in the 200-300 nm range with a quantum efficiency of at least 18%, 3) ultrashort intensifier gates of 2 ns or less, 4) fast phosphor decay to 10% of initial value after 200 ns, 5) interframe time (amount of time between two sCMOS camera frames) of 400 ns or less with a fast phosphor decay time. NASA Langley currently has one of this exact camera and having a second camera would allow velocity measurements to be acquired in a stereoscopic configuration, thereby greatly increasing the data acquired during a single data acquisition period. A secondary use for this camera is to pair it with an Andor Kymera spectrometer that NASA Langley already owns. Operating two intensified cameras together with perfect timing synchronization or a camera with a spectrometer is much more robust when the same camera (in the case of two cameras for spectroscopic measurements) or the same brands (in the case of a camera and spectrometer combination) are used.

Furthermore the 12 months contract for the Priority Support directly from the camera manufacturer would be essential to make sure the new camera is operating properly in concert with the existing camera or spectrometer.

2. What is the impact to the government if another vendor/brand was used? Include any dollar, schedule, or compatibility impacts if possible.

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Based on the camera specifications provided above, the specified Andor iStar sCMOS camera is the best option on the market for performing molecular tagging velocity measurements in the UV. A different camera system without the same specifications (for instance with a longer sCMOS interframe time or with a longer phosphor decay) would prevent the molecular tagging velocimetry measurements from being performed properly. Another primary motivation for this camera is to perform stereoscopic molecular tagging velocimetry measurements with an identical Andor iStar sCMOS camera that NASA Langley already owns. If a different vendor or brand is used, then the stereoscopic velocimetry measurements would not be feasible in such a robust manner, including with the same hardware and software controls, and valuable data products would not be obtained. Furthermore, support from Andor through the 1-year Priority Support contract would be essentially to make sure that the two-camera system is operating together properly – otherwise stereoscopic data would either not be acquired or not acquired properly. A secondary motivation for this camera is to pair it with an Andor Kymera spectrometer that NASA Langley already own for 0-D and 1-D optical emission spectroscopy in various luminous flowfields. Using an Andor camera with an Andor spectrometer will eliminate unnecessary integration tasks, thereby saving Government resources, and the 1 year of Priority Support would be essential to make sure the camera and spectrometer are operating properly in concert – otherwise data would either not be acquired or not acquired properly.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

7/17/2025

Technical User Name Date

Title

Office