VUE 250-P Scanning Acoustic Microscope

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. FURTHER, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED IN PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF DATA OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

This is a Special Notice (PUR260183) with the intent to award a sole source purchase order to OKOS Solutions, LLC (OKOS), under the authority of FAR 13.106-1 based on their unique technical qualifications as the only known provider of the brand name “VUE 250-P Scanning Acoustic Microscope”. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) knows of no other sources for this requirement. Notice is provided as information to the marketplace, market research, and is an invitation for any other qualified companies to express their interest in and demonstrate their capability to provide the required instrument.

The NTSB is an independent Federal agency with the primary missions of investigating civil aviation accidents in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

The NTSB has a requirement to accurately and effectively examine electronic evidence on accident components and systems often damaged by fire, impact, and water immersion. The Office of Research and Engineering (RE) Vehicle Recorder Division (RE-40) partially accomplishes this requirement using optical and X-ray imaging technologies at NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C.

To further enhance the examination of accident components, the NTSB intends to issue a sole source order to OKOS for one (1) VUE 250-P scanning acoustic microscope with accompanying computer including digital signal processing, 3-axis scanning software, and training to be located at the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory in Washington, D.C. 

The OKOS VUE 250-P is known to be the definitive tool used for non-destructive examination of semiconductor devices. Its ability to image silicon components without the mechanical removal of surrounding packaging material is a requirement for the Vehicle Recorder Division’s work. The division requires a device that has +/- 5.0-micro accuracy/repeatability, 0.5 micron data resolution, a scan envelope of at least 320mm x 136mm x 25mm, high pulse-echo transceivers, through-transmission, A-scan waveforms, B-scan cross section images, C-scan planar images, time of flight images, thickness images, a high sampling rate digitizer (8-bit, up to 4 GHz), and full 3D volumetric reconstruction. The only known device that meets NTSB’s requirement is the VUE 250-P scanning acoustic microscope. The only known source of this instrument is from OKOS.

Sources capable of fully satisfying the above requirements are invited to submit capability statements/expressions of interest providing the government the necessary information to determine actual capability. At a minimum, this information, which must be prepared specifically in response to this notice should, must include: (1) identification of company or organization; (2) an assertion of existing, full capability to meet proposed requirements; (3) business/contracts/marketing office point(s) of contact; (4) notification of business size and /or special status; and (5) any additional information that may be useful to the successful procurement of the requirements, if solicited. These expressions of interest shall adhere to a five (5)-page submission limit plus web links and any specialized product descriptions. The statement of qualifications should include only information that clearly demonstrates the respondent's capabilities, expertise, and experience to provide the requirements described in this notice. General marketing material should not be included. The NTSB prefers that companies do not submit proprietary material. However, the government recognizes that proprietary data may be a part of your submittal. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the government not to compete the proposed purchase order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by NTSB. Parties must submit information within five (5) days of publication of this notice. NTSB will not return capability statements and the supporting documentation submitted in response to this notice. Telephone responses and inquiries will not be accepted. You may email questions regarding this notice to the issuing office to Bryan J. Moy via email at: bryan.moy@ntsb.gov.