Sources Sought Notice.pdf

NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Serstech ArxTM mkII Portable SERS Device

This is a Sources Sought Notice in preparation for an upcoming procurement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) is conducting market research to determine potential sources for one (1) Serstech ArxTM mkll Portable SERS Device. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The size standard for this NAICS codes is 1000 employees.

This notice is issued to determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an RFQ or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for market research and information purposes only. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.

• A draft Statement of Need (SON) is provided for informational purposes only.

Standard brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this notice. Submitted Capability Statements shall include the following:

General Information: Provide the company name and address, Unique Entity Identifier, i.e., DUNS number, type of business under NAICS code 334513 (e.g. small business, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and/or women owned small business) as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM), and company point of contact including name, phone number, and e-mail address.

Capabilities: demonstrate how your firm has the products and capabilities to meet all requirements in the statement of need.

Documentation Comments: In order to facilitate the exchange of information with industry, provide any comments, questions, or suggestions that pertain to the statement of need included with this notice. Identify any areas that appear ambiguous or otherwise unclear.

Interested vendors are invited to submit an electronic response to this Sources Sought Notice to Scott Beliveau, Contracting Officer, via e-mail at scott.beliveau@noaa.gov no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern on July 24, 2024.

Capability Statements and Documentation Comments must be submitted in writing; telephonic inquiries will not receive a response.

This is not a request for technical or price quotations. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or reimburse for costs incurred by interested parties providing the information requested herein.

mailto:scott.beliveau@noaa.gov

Statement of Need

Serstech ArxTM mkII Portable SERS Device

PURPOSE: NOAA/NCCOS scientists require procurement of a rugged, compact (i.e., hand-held), lightweight, fully portable Serstech ArxTM mkII Portable SERS Device for application of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to detect and identify biotoxins for field-based surveillance applications by trained but non-technical personnel.

BACKGROUND: Scientists at the NOAA/NCCOS Hollings Marine Laboratory are engaged in R&D to identify, evaluate, and validate novel technologies for use in rapidly detecting and identifying freshwater and marine biotoxins in field-based settings (i.e., outside the laboratory). The technique of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) shows particular promise in this regard, but until recently has been restricted to laboratory-based instruments. A unique, hand-held SERS device is now available commercially and has recently been deployed in various field settings where rapid, accurate detection of a target compound(s) under frequently challenging conditions is essential. Moreover, NOAA/NCCOS scientists are interested in developing SERS-based spectral libraries for harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in order to determine how well such instruments can execute multiplexed detection of different toxin types, as well as distinguish between congeners of a single biotoxin class. This project is part of a larger effort to identify and validate field-deployable sensors for detecting freshwater and marine algal toxins as part of NOAA’s HAB observing, early warning, and forecasting efforts mandated under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA). The near real-time, actionable data on toxin occurrence acquired by such instruments can address aquaculture and/or citizen/ community science needs, and be disseminated to resource managers to support decision making aimed at mitigating the impacts of HAB toxins and protecting public and ecosystem health, as well as coastal economies.

SCOPE OR MISSION: This new hand-held, fully portable Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) instrument shall enable the rapid detection and identification of freshwater and marine biotoxins through use of a rugged, compact, fully field-portable device that can be operated by trained but non-technical personnel. Application of the SERS technology for analysis of a sample for the purpose of detecting and identifying target biotoxins shall be rapid (on the order of seconds to minutes), executable under challenging field conditions, and provide reliable, consistent identifications based on reference spectra.

The device shall be capable of analyzing samples with minimal or no clean-up required and demonstrate highly sensitive detection (limit of detection at the nanogram per microliter level; ppm) with minimal interference from sample fluorescence, which can cause a reduction in the signal:noise ratio thereby adversely affecting sensitivity. In addition, this system shall allow for acquisition of targeted reference spectra for the purpose of building new and/or supplementing existing libraries required for the identification of diverse biotoxin classes. These capabilities are required in order to fulfill NOAA’s mission requirements for near real-time monitoring and reporting of HAB toxins in marine and freshwater systems, while being amenable to aquaculture and citizen/ community science applications.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: The new Serstech ArxTM mkII Portable SERS Device shall meet the following technical specifications:

1) General System Specifications

• the unit shall be an easily hand-held device and fully portable for use in the field, with dimensions of no larger than approximately 6-8” x 3-5” x 1-2” and a weight not to exceed about 2 lbs the unit shall employ a linear CMOS detector (or equivalent in terms of performance), which achieves a significant reduction in fluorescence interference from samples (relative to a conventional CCD array detector), implement a rapid scan or analysis time of approximately 10 seconds, and include the capability for executing an auto-exposure or manual exposure of up to 60 seconds as dictated by the sample type

• the unit shall be intrinsically capable of executing Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based analysis using a dedicated, custom-designed SERS adaptor (and associated SERS discs) that can be easily implemented via simple attachment of the adaptor in the field; this critical feature will serve to increase conventional Raman sensitivity by multiple orders of magnitude as required for our applications, whereby detection of target toxin levels in the nanogram per microliter (ppm) range are necessary

• the unit shall have a highly precise autofocus capability able to account for the thickness of different containers/vessels holding the material to be analyzed; precision of the autofocus is also critical for SERS applications whereby the laser must be focused exactly at the level of the SERS disc surface; performance of the autofocus feature must be comparable to Serstech SharpEyeTM technology with a focal range of 0-4 mm

• the unit shall include a laser with an excitation wavelength of 785 nm and allow for at least three distinct power levels (minimum output of <10 mW; maximum output of 300 mW) that can be adjusted on-the-fly according to the sample type being analyzed; the spectral range of the device shall cover from at least 400 cm-1 to 2,300 cm-1, with a resolution of at least 8-10 cm-1

• the unit shall include an easily visible and low-power onboard display with LED backlighting for enhanced visibility in daylight conditions and a night-vision mode (or functional equivalent)

• the unit shall be capable of multi-mode connectivity, including at a minimum USB C, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), and Bluetooth 5.1

• the unit shall demonstrate an operating temperature range of approximately -20 °C to +50 °C (-4 °F to 122 °F) and tolerate a broad humidity range of approximately 5-90% relative humidity

• the unit shall be certified for use under rugged and demanding field conditions that we anticipate for our applications, and will optimally include formal certifications for vibration and shock tolerance (e.g., MIL-STD-810G 514.6 (vibration), MIL-STD-810G 516.6 (shock))

2) Sample Handling Requirements

• the unit shall be able to analyze a range of sample types, including solid, liquids, powders and tablets, and also be capable of simultaneously analyzing mixtures of more than one compound

• the unit shall have the ability to analyze samples with minimal to no clean-up required

3) Software and Library Requirements

• the unit shall be controlled by its own proprietary operating software with performance features functionally equivalent to (or exceeding the capabilities of) the Serstech ChemDash software and free firmware updates shall be provided over the life of the instrument; the controlling software shall support multiple data formats including, but not limited to .txt, csv, and .jcamp

• the unit shall have onboard memory capacity capable of storing at least 100,000 measurements

• the system shall have available for purchase a standard biotoxin Raman spectral library and a specialized SERS-based biotoxin spectral library that will include compounds relevant to the unit’s intended application for biotoxin detection and identification

• the operating software shall have the option of implementing user authorization security and event logging; in addition to spectral libraries available for purchase (with free updates over the life of the instrument), addition of user-defined libraries and user-added entries will be permitted

4) Accessories

• the system shall be capable of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based analysis following the simple, rapid (seconds) attachment of a SERS adaptor, which enables sensitive detection of analytes at low (ppm) concentrations and minimizes interference due to fluorescence

• other accessories shall be included at no additional cost, including a vial holder, watertight case, protective cap with calibration target, sample vials, USB C cable, AC adapter 5 VDC/1 A USB for charging

5) Warranty & Certifications

• the unit shall carry at least a 5-year warranty from the time of delivery

• the unit shall carry appropriate certifications as required for operation in rugged field conditions (e.g., IEC 60529 IP67 (ingress protection), MIL-STD-810G 514.6 (vibration), MIL-STD-810G 516.6 (shock))

DELIVERY SCHDEULE: The instrument shall be delivered no later than 31 December 2024.

DELIVER TO:

NOAA/National Ocean Service Hollings Marine Laboratory 331 Fort Johnson Rd Charleston, SC 29412 Attn. Greg Doucette