FPGA-Based GHz Multi-Instrument for Radiation Dosimetry (NIST)

BACKGROUND The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to identify alternative sources that (a) are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements for the following commercial products and commercial services and (b) would be interested in competing for that requirement: As part of its mandate to maintain and develop standards for absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, the NIST, Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML), Radiation Physics Division, Dosimetry Group has undertaken projects for realizing the gray (the SI unit of absorbed dose, abbreviated Gy) in materials and under conditions that support needs in various medical and industrial uses of radiation. To meet emerging needs in absolute dosimetry for radiotherapy, sterilization of surfaces and quality assurance in semiconductor manufacturing, the Dosimetry Group is pursuing projects for imaging dose fields in water and within silicon with high spatial resolution. For this work, specialized instrumentation capabilities – such as GHz lock-in detection, GS/s phase and spectral analysis, Pound-Drever-Hall wavelength locking, frequency-comb generation, GHz streaming to host computer, and customizable signal generation and analysis – deployed through multiple channels and sensor arrays are critically necessary to develop proof-of-concept laboratory prototypes. To support projects in the Dosimetry Group for developing measurement standards to realize the gray (Gy) in water using thermistor probes and imaging modalities such as ultrasound, and for industrial low-energy electron beams using photonic sensors, the Dosimetry Group requires an FPGA-based GHz Multi-instrument. See attached for list of required minimum technical specifications. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall provide a system that meets all technical specifications 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 are 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. Line Item 0001: Quantity:  1 Description: Customizable FPGA-based instrument with software to realize required technical specifications Technical Specifications Number of analog input channels: at least 4 Number of analog output channels: at least 4 ADC sample rate: at least 5 GS/s ADC resolution: at least 14 bits DAC update rate: at least 5 GS/s DAC resolution: at least 14 bits Input noise spectral density at/above 100 Hz:  < 10 nV/sqrt(Hz) Spectral purity/clock jitter: 10 ps or lower Data transfer rates: 1 GS/s or better Local data storage: 1 TB Instrument functionality (configurable through software): waveform generator, arbitrary waveform generator, oscilloscope, phase analyzer, spectrum analyzer, lock-in amplifier, PDH lock – specifications below: Waveform generator : Number of output channels: 4 or more Frequency range: DC to 500 MHz Output voltage range: +/- 1 mV to +/- 10 V Vert resolution: 14-bit or better Modulation: AM, FM, PM, PWM Arb generator : Number of output channels: 4 or more Sample rate: 5 GS/s  Vert resolution: 14-bit or better Memory depth: Unlimited Bandwidth: 500 MHz Oscilloscope : Number of input channels: 4 or more Sample rate: 2 GS/s Vert resolution: 14-bit or better Phase analyzer : Number of input channels: 4 or more Phase resolution: 10 urad or better Update rate: 500 MS/s or better LPF bandwidth upper limit: 1 MHz or more Spectrum analyzer : Number of input channels: 4 or more Freq range: 500 MHz Resolution bandwidth: 1 Hz or lower Lock-in amplifier : Number of channels: 4 or more Dual quadrature: 4 channels Input noise: 10 nV/sqrt(Hz) above 100 Hz Dynamic reserve: 120 dB LPF bandwidth: 1 Hz to 1 MHz Frequency: DC to 500 MHz PDH lock : Number of channels: 4 or more Scan frequency: 10 MHz Filter range: 3 kHz to 30 MHz   Software Requirements: software support for all instruments described immediately above plus DIO pattern generator and logic analyzer (using 32-bit DIO port), customizable multi-instrument coordination capability, neural-net instrumentation mode NIST has not yet determined its acquisition strategy for this requirement and encourages interested sources to respond to this Notice. If NIST’s market research indicates there are alternative sources that are capable and interested in competing to fill this requirement, separate and apart from Liquid Instruments Inc (UEI: MS6AHD4EF8D7), then NIST will consider conducting a competitive acquisition in accordance with law and regulation. To be clear, NIST’s identific