RFI_Cryocooler_SN-2019-15.pdf

Special Notice Number: SN‐2019-15: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office: Forest Service Location: National Interagency Fire Center, Boise Idaho

RFI Issue Date: 06/011/2019 Deadline to Submit Questions: 06/16/2019 RFI Response Date: 06/25/2019

Classification Code: 6640 Instruments and Laboratory Equipment NAICS Code: 423830 Cryogenic Cooling Devices

Contracting Office Address:

National Interagency Fire Center U.S. Forest Service Contracting Owyhee Bld- MS 1100 3833 S. Development Way Boise, ID 83705

Synopsis:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) ONLY. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not receive a response. This Notice is for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be misunderstood as a Request for Proposal or a Request for Quotation or as an obligation on the part of The USDA Forest Service (USFS) for conducting a follow-on acquisition. USFS does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Notice, or otherwise pay for the information requested. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by USFS will arise as a result of submission of responses to this Notice and USFS use of such information. USFS recognizes that proprietary data may be part of this effort. If so, respondents are responsible for identifying proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted / non-proprietary information. In the absence of such identification, USFS will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data in the information paper. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME.

52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. (OCT 1997)

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(b) Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: seeking information from commercial vendors that are capable of providing a split cryocooler system for use in cooling MCT infrared detectors mounted in an airborne line scanner (Texas Instruments RS-25.) (End of Provision)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

The USFS is seeking information from commercial vendors that are capable of providing a split cryocooler system for use in cooling MCT infrared detectors mounted in an airborne line scanner (Texas Instruments RS-25.) Please see Item 1 and Item 2 photos for reference. Questions may be submitted via email to vicki.keen@usda.gov. Deadline to submit questions is June 16, 11:59 p.m.

MDT.

SN-2019-15 Cryocooler mailto:vicki.keen@usda.gov

Scope description:

The requirement is for small (about 2"x2"x3" - 12 cubic inches or less) cryocooler(s). A split cryocooler system is preferred to reduce risk of vibrations and electromagnetic interference (EMI) affecting the MCT IR detector signal output. The USFS may consider other cryocooler options that do not require daily filling of LN2 or other cold fluids.

The cryocooler(s) will be used to cool MCT infrared detectors mounted in an airborne line scanner (Texas Instruments RS-25). It is preferred that a vendor can mount the USFS’s existing detectors on the cold finger of a new cryocooler. The MCT IR detectors currently used by the USFS are mounted on a 1/2" cold finger within a LN2 dewar. The detectors and IR cold filters (3-5um & 8-12um) are attached to the cold finger with 2 screws each and are accessible via several screws that permit separating the vacuum portion of the dewar. The USFS prefers the vendor to remove these detectors and mount them on the proposed cryocooler. The Model of MCT IR detector currently in use by the USFS is a Teledyne Judson Technologies model# J1 5D12-M 360-S1 65U-58-CF2:2E, Part# 453169.

The USFS may consider new MCT detectors that are integrated within a split cryocooler system or possibly a small scale cryocooler that is not a split system. New MCT detectors that are an integral part of the cryocooler system must meet or exceed the specifications of the Teledyne Judson Technologies model# J15D12-M360-S1 65U-58-CF2:2E, Part# 453169 MCT detector pair.

The current detectors are secured with two screws to the end of a .5" diameter cold finger protruding from a LN2 dewar (reference item 1). The detector is a dual band so there are four solder posts (reference item 1). Two conductors for each detector with roughly 30ga wire connecting each detector to an isolated SMA connector on the dewar body.

The current detectors are covered by dual filter lens assembly that is secured to the detector with two screws (reference item 1).

The RS-25 line scanner motor is mounted on the aft side. The detectors are oriented in-line Starboard (Right) to Port (Left). The 8-12um detector is oriented nearest the Starboard side and the 3-5um detector is oriented nearest the Port side. The detector substrate is secured with two #0-80 THD screws to the ½” cold finger. The #0-80 THD screws are oriented perpendicular to the MCT detectors scan line. In the attached image “Item 1” these screws can be seen but they are partially obscured by the IR filter window. The #0-80 THD screws are on a .375 inch bolt circle diameter. The Image “Item 2” shows the Starboard (Right) and aft sides with rulers to give some perspective of the space where the cryocooler motor and detector can be mounted.

The detector is mounted looking downward. The best space for the cryocooler motor is on the Starboard or aft sides. We currently have an INS navigation system mounted on the front and a defrost heater assembly mounted on the Port side.

SN-2019-15 Cryocooler

Requirements

1. Cryocooler must have a minimum mean time to failure (MTTF) of 10,000 hours or better.

2. Cryocooler will chill the detectors to about 77 Kelvin or colder at an ambient room temperature of 75 degrees F (23.89deg C). The detector self-heating due to bias current is about 3 to 5mW. The vendor will specify the cold temperature attainable by the proposed cryocooler for a range of ambient temperatures of 23.89 degrees Centigrade down to -40 centigrade.

3. Cryocooler will be shielded to minimize RFI/EMI emissions to reduce electronic noise coupling in the detectors output signal.

4. Cryocooler, will have a mechanical dampening method to eliminate high and or low frequency vibrations, such that vibrations are not visible in the detector signal output.

The RS-25 line scanner has a fast f2 mirror which make its focal point susceptible to seeing vibrating detectors.

5. The detector window will be a 2-14um broad band Germanium with an antireflective coating such as Edmund Optic part number 83-349.

6. Two output connectors, one for each detector will be a SMA connector.

7. The cold finger with detectors must be able to mechanically fit and mount on top of the

RS-25 line scanner with the detectors in the proper orientation as described above 8- 12um Starboard to 3-5um Port in this order.

Goals

1. Low current and or high efficiency cryocooler designs are preferred.

2. Minimize the vertical height behind the detectors field of view. (The current detectors are down looking and the existing dewar protrudes upward for about six inches.) The USFS wishes to minimize the total vertical height of the RS-25 line scanner assembly.

Item 1

Item 2

Requirements