Imaging Spectrograph

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN):

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

2. Definition of the requirement:

The Laser Science Group, a Research Centre within the NRC has a requirement for a IsoPlane SCT-320 Imaging Spectrograph with a PI MAX4 Camera. The PI MAX4 Camera extends the image in the UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and their respective wavelengths and photon energies. This requirement is for an additional system with the electromagnetic spectrum functionality. The requirement is being sourced as a non-competitive procurement for reasons of interchangeability and interoperability with existing equipment. NRC owns and operates an IsoPlane SCT-320 Imaging Spectrograph manufactured by Teledyne Princeton Instruments, this system is deeply entrenched with research and development methodologies developed by the NRC for femtosecond research, attosecond xuv sources research, strong field atomic and molecular physics research, molecular dynamics research, theory of atoms and molecules in intense fields research. The research methods include ultra-fast lasers beyond human vision to emit a series of extremely short and powerful pulses. The laser is used as a strobe to photograph the subatomic world. It allows NRC to take a snapshot of an electron in motion.

This research is the result of a special partnership between the NRC and the University of Ottawa. The lab is home to the world's most influential groups in femtosecond and attosecond science. It was established by Dr. Paul Corkum, known as the father of attosecond science and holder of a joint University of Ottawa–NRC research chair in Attosecond Photonics. Researchers from the NRC and the University of Ottawa probe deep into the sub-molecular world using laser techniques including the proposed spectrograph. The equipment in these specialized labs is so sensitive that the lasers are placed on top of 60 cm thick honeycomb tables, the concrete floor slab has been separated from the rest of the building to remove vibrations of people walking nearby. Temperature, humidity and pressure are all strictly controlled.
The current requirement must adhere to this specialized research environment of the lab and must be fully compatible with NRC’s existing IsoPlane SCT-320 Imaging Spectrograph, compatibility refers to the ability of software and hardware from different sources to work together without having to be altered to do so. This means that programs, devices and systems must interact with each other without issues arising. Compatibility is essential for preserving, evolving, and maintaining external client’s intellectual property. IP plays a key role in research excellence to maintain Canada’s strength in the quantum and semiconductor photonics industry.
The system must be delivered to 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The delivered system must include all of the following:
(a) One spectrograph with mechanical input slit.
(b) One set of 4 gratings installed on turrets and calibrated.
(c) One iCCD camera with interface adapter for the spectrograph.
(d) A software package and computer interface.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Mandatory Requirements):

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its system meets all technical requirements listed below.

3.1 The spectrograph must have:

a. Spectrograph design must be based on Czerny-Turner or Schmidt-Czerny-Turner configuration.
b. Focal length must be between 300mm and 350mm.
c. Aperture must be F5 or larger.
d. Wavelength range must be from 110nm to 800nm covered with different gratings.
e. Gratings must be interchangeable by the user.
f. Wavelength resolution of 0.1mm or less at all wavelengths and all points across the focal plane with 1200 l/mm grating.
g. Grating size must be 68 mm by 68 mm.
h. Focal plane size must be at least 27 mm wide by 14 mm high.
i. Spectrometer must have a design that allows a purging option to detect in the range from 190nm to 150nm.

3.2 The following gratings must be included in the package, installed on the turret and calibrated:
a. 600 g/mm blazed at 150nm with efficiency better than 30% at 150nm
b. 150 g/mm blazed at 300nm with efficiency better than 50% at 300nm
c. 300 g/mm blazed at 300nm with efficiency better than 75% at 300nm
d. 300 g/mm blazed at 500nm with efficiency better than 80% at 500nm
3.3 The iCCD camera must have:
a. Image sensor size must be 1024 x 256 pixels.
b. Pixel size must be 26 x 26 microns.
c. CCD camera mounting must be included with the package.
d. Pixel well depth must be 450,000 electrons (e-) or larger.
e. Dark current must be better than 4 e-/p/sec at -25C.
f. Operating CCD temperature must be below -25C with air-cooling, -35C with liquid cooling.
g. Intensifier size must be 18mm diameter or larger.
h. Intensifier type must be Generation II intensifier with Vacuum Ultra-violet window.
i. Quantum Efficiency (QE) must be 10% in the wavelength range 110nm- 400 nm or better.
j. Resolution must be 40 l/mm or better.
k. Intensifier must be permanently fused to CCD with the fiber optic bundle.
l. Intensifier phosphorus must be P43.
m. Intensifier must have a gate option.
n. The iCCD unit must contain integrated timing generator.
o. The iCCD must have a Spectrometer Mount compatible with IsoPlane 320 spectrograph.
3.4 The software package must have:
a. Computer interface must be USB or Gigabit Ethernet interface.
b. The system must have independent and simultaneous control through an integrated software package to operate the spectrograph and iCCD.
c. The software must be able to recognize the gratings and apply pre-configured calibration for different grating supplied in the package.
d. Individual drivers for the spectrograph control and iCCD camera control must be available for free for LabVIEW, MATLAB and PYTHON.

3.5 Interchangeability requirements

a. Must be fully compatible with NRC’s existing IsoPlane SCT-320 Imaging Spectrograph.
b. Research methods must be fully transferable between systems.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier:

Delta Photonics is the exclusive distributer for Teledyne Princeton Instruments in Canada. Teledyne Princeton Instruments is the only supplier with a fully compatible system that can address all of NRC’s technical requirements including compatibility, interchangeability, and interoperability as described above.

6. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons:

Only one vendor is able to meet the unique technical requirements listed herein.
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) as only one supplier is capable of performing work.

7. Ownership of Intellectual Property:

Teledyne Princeton Instruments is the manufacturer (OEM) of the proposed system and owns the associated intellectual property (IP) for the system and distribution rights. Delta Photonics is the exclusive distributer for Teledyne Princeton Instruments in Canada.

The Crown will have the right of use for normal business operations of the system once purchased. The design and system’s intellectual property are solely owned by the Teledyne Princeton Instruments.

All IP generated on this instrument during its use by the NRC SDT Research Centre would belong entirely to NRC and its Research partners.

8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date:

NRC is expecting the equipment to be delivered on or before March 1st, 2024.

9. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier:

DELTA PHOTONICS
6-2285A St. Laurent Blvd
Ottawa ON K1G 4Z4

10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities:

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing, within 15 days, to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets each of the advertised requirements in Section 3.

11. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities:

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is October 20th, 2023 at 2:00PM EDT.

12. Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Paul Hewitt
National Research Council Canada
Senior Contracting Officer
Email: Paul.Hewitt@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca