RFQ_Amendment_2_Attachment_-_Q&A.pdf

RFQ AMENDMENT 2 – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following group of questions relates to the specifications of the Ultrasound System as defined in the SOW. Answers to these questions will help us to quote the product that best meets the end user’s requirements.

Question 1: Ability to use transducers with up to 256 channels. Our interpretation of this specification is that the user is requesting a 256 channel system as opposed to a lower channel count system utilizing multiplexors to support a 256 element transducer.

Answer 1: The SOW requires up to 256 channels. Transmit specifications require the ability to control the transmission parameters on each channel. If vendor is supplying a lower count system with multiplexors, this should be stated in the quote.

The specification states “User selectable imaging modes with preset software parameters to transmit, receive, and image reconstruction: plane wave imaging, color flow Doppler, power flow Doppler, spectral Doppler, conventional line mode imaging, harmonic imaging, shear wave elastography (generation and imaging capabilities), synthetic aperture, …

Question 2.a.: Is it the intention that the system is capable of capturing data at very high framerates (limited only by speed of sound), transferring the data to the host computer at high speeds, and reconstructing images at high frame rates in real time (e.g. at >200 fps) or is it the intention that the data can be captured and then reconstructed off line or at low frame rates?

Answer 2.a.: The intent is to conduct real time imaging at low to medium frame rates for some dynamic experiments. For high rate dynamic measurements, real‐time imaging may require data collection at a high frame rate (limited by the speed of sound) and reconstruction will occur offline.

Question 2.b. – Shear wave elastography can be accomplished by using a multi‐line method providing a limited field of interest or by using plane waves and an extended transmit to capture the propagation of shear waves across a wide field of interest. Most research being conducted in shear wave elastography utilizes the second method. Please specify which approach is required. Is it the intention that this be a “real time” method?

Answer 2.b.: The research nature of the application requires a flexible system, therefore the capability to conduct shear wave elastography measurements using both methods would be considered exceeding the minimum requirement. There is no requirement on the specific method, only the capability to generate a shear wave and image mechanical properties. Shear wave elastography will be used in “real time” for static property measurements. There is no requirement for high‐rate shear wave elastography measurements.

Question 3: Universal Transducer Adapter configuration – we interpret this to mean that the system is designed with changeable transducer adaptors so that transducers from various manufactures can be attached to the system. Please confirm.

Answer 3: Confirmed.

Question 4: Max power on a single channel limited to less than 100 W. This appears to be a typo – should this be restated that the systems should provide per channel power of up to 100 Wats peak?

Answer 4: Correct. This should state less than 100 W peak. There is no requirement for high energy modes.

Question 5: Ability to define an arbitrary waveform on each channel. We interpret this to mean that the user can define any type of arbitrary waveform as opposed to selecting from a list of predefined waveforms. Please confirm.

Answer 5: Confirmed.

Question 6: Data transfer rate minimum of 4 GB/s when transferring from controller to storage system. We are not sure if this is an error.

‐ Option 1 – Data is transferred from the acquisition system to the host controller at >4 GB/s. This would support the high frame rate imaging discussed in question 2 above.

‐ Option 2 – as specified, this would be a spec to store off the data from the host controller to external storage. This does not support high framerate imaging, but is useful in the event a user connects multiple systems and is trying to synchronize and reconstruct data in quasi‐real‐ time. This interpretation is not consistent with the rest of tender specifications

Answer 6: Option 1 is correct. The data transfer rate from acquisition to host controller should be at least 4 GB/s to support high frame rate imaging.

The next question relates to the following section from the RFP:

3. If the quoter objects to any of the terms and conditions contained in this solicitation, the contractor shall state "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:" [Quoter shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)]. It is the sole responsibility of the quoter to identify in their quote any exceptions to the terms and conditions of the solicitation. If the quoter does not include such a statement, the submission of a quotation in response to this solicitation will be regarded as the quoter's acceptance of the Government's terms and conditions for inclusion into the resultant purchase order.

Except as set forth above in this paragraph 3, Contractor's shall not otherwise supply additional or differing commercial or non‐commercial terms and conditions with its quotation. The Government's terms and conditions shall prevail and quotations in violation of this paragraph may be deemed non‐responsive and not considered further for award.

Question 7: The product being requested would include software and firmware that is not sold but licensed for use. Would NIST accept an End User License so long as the terms are harmonized with the FARs stipulated in the RFQ or as addressed in the exception rational?

Answer 7: NIST will accept an End User License agreement if that is made evident in the quotation documentation.

The following additional questions have been timely received by NIST.

Question 8: Is this unit to be used on phantoms, not for human, for research on impact studies of various materials?

Answer 8: This unit will be used to image synthetic phantoms. These may be commercial or developed specifically through internal research or collaborations.

Question 9: I see no requirement for frame rates, which would give the impact study the best resolution?

Answer 9: There is no minimum requirement on frame rate. This equipment is partially intended for research on dynamic impact studies. Therefore, higher rates are better.

Acquisition is limited by acoustic travel time.

NIST thanks all companies for their questions regarding this RFQ. At this time, the Q&A period has expired. We look forward to your timely quotes.