Inactive

**Amendment 001: The purpose of this amendment is to respond to questions received from a potential source. The questions and responses are as follows: Question 1: Is this application to only re-desig... **Amendment 001: The purpose of this amendment is to respond to questions received from a potential source. The questions and responses are as follows: Question 1: Is this application to only re-design the NeXT System station only to improve the operational characteristics as defined? The BT-2 neutron imaging system will remain as shown, all floor work as defined will be by NIST? Response 1: The specifications as provided are based on a conceptual design, specifications may be amended if market research determines the conceptual design to not be physically possible and/or not as cost effective as alternative options, etc. The level epoxy floor will be provided by NIST. Question 2: Will any or all of the NeXT proof-of-concept designs be available to vendors prior to a Firm Fixed Price proposal, or after a vendor is chosen? What level of mechanical and electrical? Response 2: Designs would be made available with any resultant solicitation. Full mechanical CAD models are available for the shielding enclosure and the current proof-of-concept instrument. Conceptual designs for this upgrade would also be made available, but are incomplete at this time. There are no electrical models available at this time. Question 3: What is the existing system motion (all axis) controller? Is this a PLC (Rockwell/A-B, Siemens,…) or a PC based? Is there LabView interface for high speed data acquisition? Is there a preference? Response 3: All current motion controls are handled with multiple 3-axes Newport ESP-30x motion controllers. The controllers receive motion commands from an in-house developed data acquisition program written in C#. This program has the ability to interface with multiple brands of controllers with current support for Newport ESP-30x controllers, Kohzu controllers, and Physik Instrumente (PI) controllers. Other brands can easily be added. Preference would be to remain with Newport ESP controllers for drop in compatibility but given the load requirements of several stages the motors will most likely be too large for the ESP controllers and other solutions will be necessary. End Amendment 001** This Notice is for planning purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation, or an obligation on the part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for conducting a follow-on acquisition. NIST does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Notice, or otherwise pay for the information requested. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by NIST will arise as a result of submission of responses to this Notice and NIST use of such information. The Neutron and X-ray Tomography system (NeXT) at NIST was developed as a proof-of-concept system in 2015 allowing truly simultaneous neutron and X-ray tomography. The system orients an X-ray generator perpendicular to a neutron beam originating from NIST’s 20 MW research reactor. The proof-of-concept system was initially designed to be portable to share between the thermal neutron imaging instrument and the cold neutron imaging instrument. Additionally, the portability allows for easy removal during experiments that do not require it as this was considered a safety feature at the time but has been deemed unnecessary. The proof-of-concept system has operated in the facility user program since its conception. The nature of the current design, i.e. lack of critical motion control, repeatability, alignment, and intense alignment needed during every installation, makes operation and data analysis for users very difficult. In an effort to allow quicker reconfiguration for different users experiments and simplify data analysis, NIST is seeking to identify sources capable of providing a new design that would allow proper motion control, axes, and inherent alignment. The system must be delivered as a drop-in/bolt-in ready system (i.e. fully assembled. The system will be installed by NIST personnel. Please reference the attachments titled, "AMDTB-20-0003 Sources Sought Notice" and “AMDTB-20-0003 Draft Specifications for the NeXT Upgrade” for complete details.