Single Stage Accelerator Mass Spectrometer

The Naval Research Laboratory intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competitive basis with National Electrostatics Corporation (NEC) for a Single Stage Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (SSAMS). NEC invented the concept of single stage ion acceleration for accelerator mass spectrometry, otherwise known as Single Stage Accelerator Mass Spectrometry or SSAMS. They hold the patent for this technology and have not licensed its fabrication to anyone else. Only this technology enables use of either positive or negative ions for injection into the accelerator, which we require to enable full use of our Cameca IMS 6f SIMS ion source for mass spectrometry. The system must include an A single stage accelerator mass spectrometer (SSAMS) system to accept ions generated by a Cameca IMS 6f SIMS front end at NRL to perform both positive and negative ion accelerator mass spectrometry. This technique will enable molecule destruction to remove that interference from mass spectrometry. The SIMS instrument must remain at ground potential, and the SSAMS system must be designed to accept 9 keV ions produced by the SIMS ion source. The SSAMS system must provide correct both mechanical and optical coupling to existing components in hand at NRL. The output of the Cameca SIMS front end is currently transmitted through an electrostatic analyzer, a steerer, beam profile monitor, Faraday cup, Einzel lens, and bellows with 8" conflat flanges. The accelerator must provide stable 300-kV operation, so that high precision measurements can be obtained (0.5% for isotope ratios). The system must be able to bounce the energy of ions so that it can rapidly switch between measurements of different nearby masses. The system must provide automated computer operation and data collection. The SSAMS system must include the following specific features: 1) It must provide a magnet for low energy mass analysis with a mass'energy product of at least 2.6 MeV'amu. The magnet must be electrically isolated so that electrostatic bouncing of the ion energy can be used to rapidly switch between different mass ions, and the necessary power supplies, switches, and controls must be provided to enable bouncing. A factor of two change in mass is desired. 2) It must use at least six turbomolecular pumps and appropriate backing pumps to ensure stable, clean, and reliable ultrahigh vacuum conditions throughout the SSAMS system. Vacuum gauges and isolation valves must be provided to easily operate and maintain the vacuum system, and stainless steel beam lines with metal gasket seals must be used to connect components together. 3) It must provide a stripper capability with two turbomolecular pumps to minimize leakage of stripper gas into adjacent vacuum sections. The stripper must also include a beam slit and pressure readout to properly control and quantify the amount of stripper gas in use. 4) It must include beam control and measurement components, including at least three Faraday cups, three slit assemblies, and applicable lens elements. 5) It must include a magnet for high-energy mass analysis with a mass energy product of at least 19 MeV'amu, its required vacuum chamber, and a Hall probe to measure its magnetic field. 6) It must include a high-energy electrostatic analyzer to select a specific energy/charge ratio for the ion to be analyzed, and its associated power supplies and bouncing capability. 7) It must include a deflector with bouncer and vacuum chamber. 8) It must include a high voltage deck capable of supporting 300 kV isolation and the weight of all the components to be mounted on the deck. It must include all the power supplies, bouncers, isolation transformers, and a control computer to operate the deck. A desk must be provided to use the control computer. 9) All high voltage components must be shielded from operating personnel, including use of a safety screen with interlocked doors and safety grounding rods to surround the high voltage deck. 10) The price of the system shall include training in the use of the control system as well as delivery and installation of the instrument at NRL, Washington DC. 11) A full set of all written documentation customarily provided to the public with a commercial item shall be provided. This shall include users manual(s) or equivalent as well as copies of any software, and any manuals for the software included with the system, if customarily provided. This documentation shall be received by NRL with the 12 Month Design/Assembly Report (CLIN 0001AA), unless other arrangements are agreed to by the authorized Government representative. 12) The contractor shall offer the Government at least the same warranty terms, including offers of extended warranties, offered to the general public in customary commercial practice. These warranty terms must be included in the system price. The period of the warranty shall begin upon acceptance. OPTION 1: A broader range injection magnet that switches masses by bouncing electrostatically between multiple exit ports allowing for matrix beam monitoring up to a factor of 4 in mass on the high and low side of the selected trace element mass. OPTION 2: Improved beam diagnostics including separate ports for ion imaging and particle counting before injection to the SSAMS. OPTION 3: Increasing the mass'energy product for the high-energy magnet to 75 MeV'amu.. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Other business opportunities for NRL are available at our website http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm.