High Resolution InSb Altair Industrial Package

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CDC, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA, hereby announces its intent to issue a purchase order to FLIR Systems, Inc. for a High Resolution InSb Altair Industrial Package. a. Acquisition purpose and objectives. The purpose of this contract is to purchase an Infrared (IR) camera also referred to as a thermal imaging camera for use in current and future research projects. The IR camera will be used to support scientific research on healthcare worker PPE for pandemic influenza. Specifically, the IR camera will be an invaluable tool under Project BREATHE to conduct research on respirators. Prior NPPTL research has indicated IR technology is capable of determining the presence of leaks, evaluating fit, and measuring the increase of facial temperature while wearing a respirator. Project BREATHE (Better Respirator Equipment utilizing Advanced Technologies for Healthcare Employees) is a collaborative effort between the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest integrated healthcare system in the U.S., and NIOSH to identify and integrate new and advanced technologies into respirators utilized by HCW. This project addresses respirator issues such as proper use, clinical effectiveness, communication, comfort, tolerability and compliance leading toward the development of improved respirators that will result in enhanced protection. The IR camera will be imperative in the research on proper use, comfort, and tolerability issues b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). Based on our evaluation of systems on the open market, we have selected the FLIR Systems SC5600MB MWIR 640x512 camera system. The SC5600MB MWIR is the only system that meets all of our application requirements for accurate and quick thermal inspections and real time analysis needed for the evaluation of human subjects wearing respirators. The SC5600MB MWIR will expedite testing and data analysis of a range of variables, but most importantly this specific camera provides the highest thermal sensitivity and data capture rate currently available. These two features allow us to monitor real time human subject data and measure precise changes in temperature both of which are required to conduct this scientific research. In addition, FLIR Systems is the leading manufacturer of this type of equipment in the world. Additional technical requirements that can only be met by the selected IR camera include: - The camera system must be sensitive to radiation in the 3 to 5 micron wavelength range. - The camera must have a staring focal plane array with at least 640 x 512 InSb pixels. - The camera system must have a 40MHz pixel clock for high speed imaging. - The camera must be able to operate at 100 frames per second in full frame. It must have windowing capability for increased frame rates. - The camera must have at least 14-bits of dynamic range and output digital video with snap-shot readout. - The camera system must have both Gigabit Ethernet and Camera Link digital outputs. - The camera system must allow for simultaneous analog and digital video at all available frame rates. - The camera system must be cooled via a closed-cycle Stirling cooler. External cooling mechanisms like LN2 are unacceptable. - The camera must have an array with a minimum format: 640 H x 512 V, Pixel Size: 15 x 15 microns with an Optical Fill Factor: greater than 90%. - The camera must be capable of advanced triggering with user selectable delays. The SC5600MB MWIR is the highest performance equipment available and is the only system that meets all of our application requirements. In addition, NPPTL currently owns an IR camera, which is now obsolete, manufactured by FLIR systems. Data collected previously using the existing IR camera will be compatible with the new IR system. Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are encouraged to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written item description/item characteristics and pricing information in the format they choose, not to exceed 10 pages. Please forward the item description and pricing information to Margaret Mooney, Purchasing Agent, Reference number 2009-Q-11346, CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. All vendors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.ccr.gov. The Government will review any/all item descriptions and pricing information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), negotiations will be conducted with FLIR Systems, Inc., 25 Esqyire Road, North Bullerica, MA 01862 as the only source and a purchase order will be issued without any additional notices being posted. This solicitation is non-restrictive