3D Photometric Stereo Microscope

NIST-SS26-114

PLEASE NOTE THIS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY

Title:  3D Photometric Stereo Microscope

BACKGROUND

NIST performs research and measurements in the field of surface topography and the forensic analysis of toolmarks.  A photometric-stereo 3D scanning microscope system is needed that can acquire 3D scans of surfaces.  Samples to be measured will include those that have steep local slope angles and be made of transparent or translucent materials, such as glass and various polymers.  The ability to accurately measure these surfaces is critical to the research being performed. NIST requires an imaging microscope that can produce three-dimensional (3D) surface topography scans of samples under test.  The microscope method of operation shall be of a photometric-stereo design. 

The 3D photometric stereo microscope will be used in three areas of research:

1. Identifying toolmarks on the surfaces of 3D printed parts as part of a research project funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).  The goal of this project is to test the ability to identify the 3D printer that a specific part was 3D printed from by comparing surface features and toolmarks that are produced on the printed part by the 3D printer.  These include toolmarks transferred to the printed part from the 3D printer’s build plate and heated nozzle.  Samples to be scanned include the 3D printed parts which may be produced from various polymers (PLA, ABS, PETG) as well as the components of the 3D printer (build plates, nozzles).  Some materials are translucent in nature and may have high slope angles due to the 3D printing process.  The ability to scan and acquire accurate 3D surface topography images of these samples is critical in meeting the deliverables of the project.

1. Research related to general surface texture analysis of samples.  This includes samples that may be produced from transparent materials, such as glass, and those with surface features that have high local slope angles (greater than 30 deg. slope).  This includes geometric reference surfaces such as step height samples for vertical scale calibration or grid samples for lateral scale and distortion calibration. 

1. 3D scanning of forensic samples such as fired bullets and cartridge cases.  Imaging of these samples supports our research in bringing new technology to forensic laboratories that investigate firearm related crimes.  NIST is helping to bring new measurement methods, advanced correlation algorithms, and large image databases to forensic labs to improve their ability in making source identifications as part of criminal investigations.

1. Scope

This order is for one (1) photometric stereo microscope; associated software required to operate it, to analyze data, and to export data for external analysis; and any consumable supplies required to operate it. This microscope is required to perform the research described in the Section I above.

1. Minimum Requirements

The system shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements identified below. All items must be new.  Used or remanufactured equipment 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.   All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

The Contractor shall provide the following that meet the following minimum specifications:

1. Quantity of one (1) microscope system using a photometric-stereo type of operation.  In general, this method of operation includes a series of sequential illuminating lights arranged around the surface to be measured at different incident angles.  A series of images is captured sequentially from each light source.  The computer then uses the series of images to calculate the surface normals of all points in the measurement region and construct a 3D surface topography image.

1. The microscope system shall include all necessary components for normal operation, including but not limited to:

1. 1. Digital imaging components.  (e.g.: imaging sensor/camera)
   2. Array of LED light sources
   3. Any necessary optical components (e.g: objectives, lenses, filters)
   4. System shall incorporate a “live view” that allows viewing of samples in real time.
   5. Shall include all necessary power supplies, cables, adapters, etc. for normal operation.

1. The vendor shall provide a Microsoft Windows based desktop, laptop, or tablet computer system capable of operating the microscope and performing any necessary processing or analysis of the captured scans.  This shall include:

1. 1. Display
   2. Hard drive for storing the operating system, microscope program, and surface data.  Must be of adequate size to store at least 500 scans.
   3. Method of exporting the data, such as a USB port). 
   4. System RAM memory shall be adequate for capturing sample scans including those by stitching method, where multiple scans are combined into a single image.

1. The vendor shall include any necessary calibration artifacts to properly calibrate the microscope such that it performs in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

1. The vendor shall include all necessary power supplies, cables, adapters, etc. for normal operation.  Power shall be configured for standard U.S. 120V operation.

1. Software functions shall include at a minimum:
   1. Software shall fully operate microscope as intended.
   2. Software shall have necessary calibration routines built in such that NIST can perform routine calibrations of the system.
   3. Shall include a “live view” that allows viewing of the sample in real time for positioning and alignment purposes.
   4. Software shall include a stitching routine for combining multiple scan images together, allowing larger fields of view to be acquired.
   5. Shall have the capability to store scan data to the hard drive and include an export utility where measured surfaces can be saved into general purpose, nonproprietary formats, such as .txt and .X3P formats.
   6. Shall include basic analysis routines, including plane fitting, filtering and calculation of surface roughness parameters (according to ASME B46 or ISO standards).
   7. Software will be configured for a “perpetual license”.  That is, the system will continue to operate fully without requiring additional recurring license fees.

1. The minimum performance requirements shall include:

1. 1. The digital capturing device (image sensor) shall have at a minimum 1 MP (megapixels) with a minimum lateral (x-y) resolution of 5 µm. 
   2. The vertical scale (z) resolution shall be at least 1 µm.
   3. The FOV (field of view) of a single image shall be at least 8 mm x 8 mm.
   4. Capture of a single acquisition (scan plus data processing) shall take no more than 20 seconds.
   5. Shall have the ability to accurately scan the surfaces of transparent materials, such as glass.
   6. Shall have the ability to accurately scan the surfaces of translucent materials, such as some polymers used in 3D printing (PLA, ABS, PETG).

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 and its past experience. Any relevant past performance.

•           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

o          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.

o          If you believe the NAICS and/or Product Service Code code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS/PSC 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 listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 30, 2026.  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.