RFQ_Attachment_1_-_SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) Rheology LS Instruments AG DWS RheoLab III Model

(Brand Name or Equal)

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Materials Science and Engineering Division develops the measurement science, standards, technology, and data required to support the nation's need to design, develop, manufacture, and use materials. NIST is developing an instrument for high shear rate rheoSANS, simultaneously an instrument for rheology and small angle (neutron) scattering. NIST is also developing other microfluidic high shear rate rheometers.

Here, NIST’s purpose is to obtain complementary capability for comparison, correlation and contrast between very high frequency quiescent linear rheology (to be purchased) and very high shear rate steady non-linear rheology (which we develop), so that each kind of measurement may be better utilized and inform the other. This new capability will be useful for comparisons with neutron spin echo experiments, which also access very short time material behavior.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

Delivery, installation, and testing of one (1) LS Instruments AG RheoLab III DWS Rheology, or equal.

III. SPECIFICATIONS

A. The Contractor shall supply one (1) LS Instruments AG RheoLab III DWS Rheology or a brand for microrheology with the following specifications for measurement of mean square displacement and viscoelastic moduli of liquid, suspension or gel samples. Applicable to samples with viscosity within the range of 0.1 mPa s to 1000 Pa s; the range of the accessible moduli is from 1 Pa to 50 kPa. The DWS system shall have the same salient physical, functional and performance characteristics set forth below.

1. The instrument shall be able to operate in transmission mode and in backscattering mode.

Transmission mode ensures sufficient multiple light scattering and is for higher accuracy microrheology. Backscattering mode is for microrheology of very turbid samples and for particle size measurement.

2. Fully enclosed instrument for benchtop use. Single mode TEM00 diode laser illumination safely inside enclosure.

Laser power at least 40 milliW.

Intensity fluctuations less than 0.5%.

Coherence length greater than 10 m.

Warm up time no more than 15 minutes.

3. Rotating ground glass scatterer to create a speckle pattern with time periodic repeatability to facilitate long time correlation measurements.

4. Dual avalanche photo diode detectors with at least 65% single photon detection efficiency and deadtime no more than 20 ns. Cross correlation of the two detectors filters ns noise.

5. The light intensity signal time cross-correlator and filter gives accurate viscoelastic moduli over the full range of frequency from 0.1 Hz to 10 MegaHz. Smallest sampling time does not exceed 12 ns. The range of the accessible moduli is from 1 Pa to 50 kPa.

6. Cuvettes for sample holding. Several sizes for different path length. Thickness 1 mm (12 cuvettes); thickness 2 mm (4 cuvettes); thickness 5 mm (8 cuvettes); thickness 10 mm (4 cuvettes).

7. Controllable sample temperature ranging from 4 °C or less to 90 °C or more. Stable with deviations in temperature less than ±0.05 °C.

8. Software to operate instrument (including using user defined scripts to setup and run multiple measurements in series) and analyze data, giving full data access and microrheology results.

9. Measurement over the full range of frequency from 0.1 Hz to 10 MegaHz accomplished in 5 minutes.

B. Brand Name or Equal

This is a brand name or equal purchase. The Government considers the LS Instruments AG RheoLab III model as meeting the specifications cited above. Offerors may propose another item but must include with their proposal documentation that demonstrates that it meets the specifications. Documentation must include drawings, diagrams, brochures or other literature that demonstrates these salient characteristics. Failure to provide such documentation will cause the proposal to be unacceptable.

IV. INSTALLATION

Delivery, installation and basic training.

V. TRAINING

The contractor shall conduct one (1) training session for up to three (3) technical personnel at

NIST.

VI. WARRANTY

One-year warranty on defective parts.

VII. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall deliver the DWS instrument to the following address:

National Institute of Standards and Technology Shipping and Receiving Building 301 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Contractor shall install, test and provide training within 40 days of purchase order award.

VIII. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

The NIST TPOC will inspect the hardware upon receipt of delivery at NIST Gaithersburg and will notify the contractor of any defects or of acceptance. The NIST TPOC will ensure that installation and testing are complete and that the system is operating at manufacturer specifications. The NIST TPOC will ensure that training is adequately conducted and will then inform the contractor of final acceptance.

IX. PAYMENT TERMS

Contractor shall invoice one (1) initial and final invoice only upon receiving NIST’s final acceptance of all deliverables. Advanced payment or commercial interim payments are not authorized.