Statement of Need-VSC.pdf

STATEMENT OF NEED FOR SUPPLY OR SERVICE

REQUIREMENTS-24-1148

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 BACKGROUND

The NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center Forensic Laboratory conducts casework to identify evidence submitted to the laboratory by NOAA Law Enforcement and their partners. Evidence can come from a variety of marine organisms and tissues, to include: fish fillets, tanned leather, ivory and bone carvings, shark fins, etc. The laboratory conducts morphological identifications of most ivory items. The laboratory also uses morphology to triage shark fins and suspected whale bone carvings, which are often part of seizures comprising hundreds to many thousands of items, and which currently require DNA analysis to definitively identify. Morphological triage helps reduce the number of items that go on to more expensive and time-consuming DNA analysis. The laboratory needs to purchase a Video Spectral Comparator to assist in morphological triage/identification of submitted evidence items.

1.2 OBJECTIVE

A large part of any forensic morphological examination of ivory and bone is the use of alternate light sources, such as long-wave UV, which can differentiate between authentic natural material and manufactured substitutes. For all evidence types analyzed with morphology, the ability to visualize them under different sources and angles of illumination, magnify features, capture images, and annotate those images with measurements are critical for analysis and for preparation of reports, courtroom exhibits, and training materials. We currently do not have an instrument that allows us to capture, measure, and annotate images or use multiple alternate light sources or magnification. A Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) would allow us to accomplish all of these tasks. Not only will a VSC help us perform ivory identifications, it has the potential to help us develop new methods for definitive identification of shark fins and whale bones without DNA analysis by allowing magnification, measurement, and quantification of features such as Haversian canals on bones and denticles (structures akin to fish scales) on shark fins.

2.0 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

We require a Video Spectral Comparator meeting the following specifications:

1. Instrument footprint ≤700mm W x 700mm D x 450mm H. Available bench space for a new instrument is limited. I have measured the space where the instrument would go, and we can’t accommodate a larger footprint. (see also related requirement 4c)

2. Camera capable of generating images of at least 12 MP

3. Hardware

a. Illumination

i. Illumination under long- and short-wave UV, white, IR, and multiple color

LEDs

ii. Oblique lighting with adjustable angle of illumination

iii. Vast majority of lighting should be LED. This is for energy savings, lack of heat generation, and longevity of bulbs.

iv. Any non-LED bulbs must be user-serviceable.

b. Flap openings on at least three sides to fit large and odd-shaped items like tusks

c. Optical magnification of >200X, with additional digital magnification

d. Motorized stage for fine positioning of evidentiary items

e. Spectrometer for measurement of absorption, reflectance, transmission, and fluorescent features

f. Ability to calibrate measurements and spectrophotometer with NIST-traceable standards, to meet ISO 17025 requirements

g. Ability to capture letter-sized image (≥216 x 280 mm) without stitching

h. Ability to capture 3D images of surface topography (such as for imaging shark skin denticles)

4. Computer and software

a. 32” monitor and CPU meeting minimum specifications recommended for the instrument

b. Software should be user-friendly and primarily menu-based (like MS Word), not button-based (like Adobe Acrobat)

c. CPU is external to instrument, for easy replacement/servicing and flexibility in placement on/under bench to optimize space usage

d. Ability to perform angle and straight-line measurements on an image and annotate these onto the image without obscuring the underlying image features

e. Ability to export high-resolution images as tiff, jpg, bmp, and other common graphics formats with image settings and annotations “flattened” onto the image.

Exported images should not always be imbedded in reports, as it constrains the ability to use the image in other software such as Powerpoint, Google slides, etc.

f. Ability to indicate to the instrument a specific area of the evidentiary item on which to auto-focus (important when examining non-flat objects like carvings)

g. Ability to visualize and capture images of objects with curved or otherwise non-flat surfaces using focal plane merging

h. Lifetime free software updates .

5. Ability to share data files with a Foster and Freeman 8000 HS

6. Instrument warranty for 2 years

7. On-site installation and 2 day training

3.0 DELIVERABLES & SCHEDULE

The VSC will be delivered no later than September 26, 2024.

The Bill of Lading for freight charges is required.

4.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for delivery of the instrument is on or before 9/26/24. The period of warranty shall be one year from the date of installation.

5.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance will be at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center / Conservation Biology Division / Marine Forensic Laboratory, Charleston, SC.

See full addresses below:

NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC Marine Forensic Laboratory 331 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412-9110

6.0 POINT OF CONTACT

Susan Henderson, NMFS/Office of Law Enforcement

Susan.henderson@noaa.gov