Sources Sought Notice for Metrology-Grade Single Photon Counting Digital Cameras

The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs.

BACKGROUND
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Optical Radiation Group within the Sensor Science Division of the Physical Measurements Laboratory is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a quantity of two (2) metrology-grade single photon counting digital cameras. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516.

NIST is developing a single photon spectroradiometer to meet a customer’s needs. A metrology-grade digital camera that can measure a single photon is required for the spectroradiometer. The digital cameras must fulfil the goal above and meet the following draft minimum specifications:

1. One (1) thermoelectrically cooled CMOS camera with single-photon measurement capability.
2. Spectral range: 280 nm to 1100 nm.
3. Capable of resolving single photons.
4. Sensor dimensions: 18.8 mm (H) × 10.6 mm (V).
5. Image resolution: 4096 (H) × 2304 (V) (9.4 megapixels) or higher.
6. Pixel size: 4.6 µm × 4.6 µm.
7. 16-bit digital output.
8. Readout noise: ≤ 0.30 electrons RMS.
9. Dark current: ≤ 0.006 electrons/pixel/second.
10. Dynamic range: 23,000:1.
11. Photoresponse Non-Uniformity (PRNU): < 0.1%.
12. Nonlinearity error: < 0.5%.
13. Trench structure design to minimize crosstalk.
14. No dead zones between adjacent pixels.
15. Etaloning minimized for improved image quality.
16. Electronic shutter with an integration time range from 7 microseconds to 30 minutes.
17. Communication interface: USB 3.1.
18. LabVIEW software for control and data acquisition.
19. Include 1-year warranty

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response.  Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

• Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.

• Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.

• Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why.  Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.

• For the NAICS code

• Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
• If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement. 

• If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.

• Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.

• Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section. 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received 5 calendar days prior to the close of this notice. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future. 

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. 

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice. 

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!