TIME-GATED RAMAN SPECTROMETER SoR.pdf

STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS (SoR)

Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer

I. BACKGROUND

Many significant technological advancements have resulted from discovering and developing materials with new properties or functions. For example, advances in silicon technology have made it possible to rely on and enjoy the use of ultraportable computers. In partnership with members of industry, other government agencies, and academia, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Science and Engineering Division (MSED) develops the measurement science, standards, technology, and data required to support the nation's need to design, develop, manufacture, and use materials. MSED’s goal is to advance materials technology and manufacturing processes, enabling those engaged in the materials science and engineering enterprise to create innovative, successful products that solve problems in areas such as electronics, transportation, civil infrastructure, biopharmaceuticals, energy, and the environment – and ultimately contribute to a better quality of life for Americans.

The manufacture of polymeric materials from their raw form into their final useful product occurs under highly non-equilibrium conditions where temperature and stress fields evolve rapidly and invoke complex non-Newtonian responses in the material. These complex process histories dictate the final properties, but these are difficult to measure and control. In the Polymer Additive Manufacturing and Rheology (PAMR) Project, MSED develops instrumentation and methodologies to measure such fields and the response of the real-time material to them. MSED focuses on measurements where national needs have been identified, such as plastics recycling and composite curing, and in emerging areas that represent sources of new US manufacturing, such as additive manufacturing (AM)

Plastics recycling has become a topic of international concern as more attention focuses on ocean pollution, litter, and strained landfills. The PAMR Project examines fundamental issues related to the (re)manufacture of plastics from recycled feedstocks with a focus on polyolefins – e.g., polyethylenes (PE) and isostatic polypropylenes (iPP) – representing the largest share of such plastic waste. Here MSED focuses on the property reduction that follows when polyolefins are mixed, which is frequently the case in post-consumer resins.

Currently, MSED is examining how these crystallize during processing and the effect on resulting properties wherein MSED employs the NIST rheo-Raman-microscope – an instrument consisting of a continuous-wave Raman spectrometer coupled to an optical microscope and a device used to measure mechanical properties of samples. This hybrid instrument can simultaneously measure the crystallization kinetics and the rheology during the cooling from molten polymer to its solid form.

MSED’s goal is to use these measurements to improve the strength of recycled plastics and better understand mechanical properties, including tensile stress, compressive stress, thermal properties, and nanostructure. MSED has observed a strong dependence of composition on the crystallization process, a phenomenon attributed to finite size effects, morphology, and partial miscibility.

However, the current continuous-wave Raman spectrometer on the rheo-Raman microscope cannot measure materials with a high fluorescence background preventing the study of common commercial plastics and recycled materials.

One way to separate Raman information from fluorescence is to use a pulsed laser and time-sensitive detector – since Raman scattering is faster than the time for fluorescence emission and lifetime decay, a time-resolved (also called time-gated) detector can be used to isolate the Raman signal from the longer fluorescence lifetime decay. While Raman spectra provide information on chemical bonds in the material, fluorescence lifetime provides a measure of fluorophore mobility. A time-gated Raman spectrometer will allow the measurement of these properties in commercial plastics, recycled materials, and many other material systems.

II. TIME-GATED RAMAN SPECTROMETER SYSTEM SALIENT

CHARACTERISTICS

The system shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured componentry will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered. The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Contractor is not acceptable. The instrument shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

The Contractor shall provide one (1) Timegate PicoRaman Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer that meets the following salient characteristics:

System Requirements:

Hardware:

The instrument shall consist of a pulsed laser and spectrometer capable of measuring time-gated Raman spectra.

The spectrometer shall measure Raman spectra and fluorescence lifetimes on the same detector.

The laser and spectrometer setup shall be coupled to fiber optics with fiber channel (FC) connectors.

The instrument shall be provided with a power supply and ethernet cable.

The instrument shall have a pulsed laser that meets the following salient characteristics:

- Excitation wavelength 532 nm

- Line width of 0.1 nm or less

- Pulse width 150 ps or less

- Repetition rate 100 kHz to 250 kHz

- Pulse energy up to 1 µJ, internally controlled via software

- Power up to 200 mW at laser port, internally controlled via software

The instrument shall have a spectrometer system that meets the following salient characteristics:

- Simultaneous measurement of Raman scattering and fluorescence decay lifetime on a single detector

- Detector shall be a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor single-photon avalance diode (CMOS SPAD) array for measurement of scattering intensity as a function of wavelength (or wavenumber) and time

- Spectral resolution of 5 cm-1 or less

- Spectral range of 0 cm-1 to 2500 cm-1 or greater

- Time resolution of 150 ps or better

- Time gating from 150 ps to 5 ns or greater

The instrument shall have a Raman Microprobe microscope adapter that meets the following salient characteristics:

- Compatible with the PicoRaman Spectrometer

- Compatible with a BX Series Olympus Microscope

The instrument shall have a SampleCube with fiber optic probe that meets the following salient characteristics:

- Fiber optic probe o Compatible with excitation wavelength o Raman cut-off of 150cm-1 o Rayleigh rejection of optical density (OD) 6 or greater o Fiber length 1.5 m in total o Excitation fiber diameter 105µm o Collection fiber diameter 200µm

The laser and spectrometer shall have a footprint that is within 3 ft x 2 ft to fit onto an existing optical table.

For laser safety, the instrument shall include a safety interlock short-circuit plug and laser power keys.

The Contractor shall provide laser safety goggles that meet ANSI Z136 standards for laser safety protection.

Software

The Contractor shall provide tgAnalyzer software for instrument control and analysis. The software shall be compatible with Windows 10 or higher.

III. INSTALLATION

The Contractor shall install the instrument in Building 224, Room A222, at NIST’s Gaithersburg, MD facility. Installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, set-up and assembly, hook-up of all equipment, software installation, start-up, demonstration of all required minimum specifications, and removal of all trash.

Contractor authorized personnel shall install the instrument and perform all activities necessary to ensure the instrument is fully functional and meets all required minimum specifications.

The instrument shall operate to OEM specifications upon completion of installation.

The installation shall occur during regular business hours, between 8:30AM and 5:00PM ET M-F except for Federal Holidays, and shall be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPoC). Installation is to occur within 60 days of award.

IV. WARRANTY

The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, a one-year warranty for the equipment. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor, and travel. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, inspection, training, and demonstration of all required specifications through acceptance testing which will be satisfied by performing time-gated Raman measurements on two dyed polymer samples.

V. TRAINING

The Contractor shall conduct training at NIST’s Gaithesburg, MD facility for up to 2 NIST personnel covering normal operation, basic troubleshooting, and routine maintenance procedures. Training shall be provided during regular business hours, between 8:30AM and 5:00PM ET M-F except Federal Holidays, and shall be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPoC) to ensure maximum availability of NIST personnel. Training may be mutually scheduled to occur within 10 days of installation. Alternatively, training may be conducted on-site at NIST’s Gaithersburg, MD facility immediately after installation and demonstration of specifications.

VI. OPTION – 1 YR. MAINTENANCE PLAN

The Contractor shall conduct an annual service engineer visit to inspect and recalibrate the system and replace the laser source. The instrument must operate to OEM specifications upon completion of any warranty/maintenance plan service incident. The Contractor shall dispatch a service engineer who is fluent in the operation of the instrument.

Invoicing of the 1-yr. Maintenance Plan shall be semi-annually or quarterly, in arrears.

VII. DELIVERY

Delivery shall be FOB Destination (or equivalent terms, such as INCOTERMS Delivered Duties Paid) and shall occur not later than (NLT) 60 days ARO.

FOB Destination means: The Contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The Contractor shall deliver to:

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

VIII. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY, DATA AND/OR INFORMATION

The Government will provide a computer with Windows 10 and an available Ethernet port.

The Government will provide access to the NIST facility for the purpose of instrument installation and training.

IX. DELIVERABLES

Description Quantity Due Date Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer, Microprobe, SampleCube, analysis software and auxiliary accessories

One (1) of each

NLT 60 calendar days after award of this requirement

Operations and Maintenance Manual for the Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer System

One (1) NLT 60 calendar days after award of this requirement

Instrument Installation at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD facility

One (1) job

NLT 60 calendar days after award of this requirement

Training of NIST personnel at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD facility

One (1) session

NLT 10 business days after installation

X. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in FAR 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified instrument performance. Such tests and evaluation, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the instrument is to be operated. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if performed, at the Contractor’s expense.

A visual inspection of the instrument will be performed by the NIST TPoC to identify surface defects or any form of indication that the instrument was damaged during transport to NIST. The Government shall have the sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming componentry at no cost to the Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance may reject the instrument due to defects and/or nonconformance.

Acceptance testing will be conducted by the NIST TPoC to verify the instrument conforms to all minimum technical requirements and achieves successful results through performing time-gated Raman spectra measurements on two dyed polymer samples.

Final acceptance by the Government shall be granted after confirmation that the instrument meets all minimum required specifications defined in the SoR, including successful installation and completion of training. The warranty shall not commence until final acceptance has been granted by the Government.

XI. PAYMENT

The Contractor shall invoice in one lump sum after all required items and services have been accepted by the Government. Partial payments are not authorized. Advanced payments are not authorized.

XII. GENERAL INFORMATION

Safety: The Contractor shall be responsible for knowing and complying with commercial installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for entry into buildings and also is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Identification Badges: The Contractor shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. The Contractor shall provide the name and citizenship information of employees for on-site visits to the NIST TPoC prior to arrival. The TPoC will submit the name(s) and citizenship information to the NIST Office of Security in order for a given Contractor employee to enter the NIST campus. The Contractor employee is responsible for absences due to missing or expired identification and access documents. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office. The Contractor employee shall surrender the NIST identification badge to the TPoC upon conclusion of any services rendered.

NIST VISITOR AND CONTRACTOR PROTOCOLS FOR MITIGATING COVID-19

EXPOSURE:

For onsite installation and training, the Contractor shall review and adhere to the directive: NIST Visitor and Contractor Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses.

Any individual coming onto campus must conduct a personal health screening by reviewing the COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire. This self-screening must be performed every day an individual wants to access a NIST campus. Anyone answering “Yes” to any question should immediately contact their sponsor and not attempt to access the campus.

The directive and questionnaire are available to view at:

https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses

The directive and questionnaire are subject to change and should be monitored by the Contractor via the NIST website: https://www.nist.gov https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses https://www.nist.gov/