MODIFICATION
63 -- Personal Radiation Detectors
- Notice Date
- 9/21/2004
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 334519
— Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- DHS - Border and Transportation Security, Customs and Border Protection, Procurement Division, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 1310 NP, Washington, DC, 20229
- ZIP Code
- 20229
- Solicitation Number
- RFPHSBP1004R0177
- Response Due
- 9/24/2004
- Archive Date
- 10/9/2004
- Description
- A number of additional questions have been asked about the U. S. Customs and Border Protection specifications for the acquisition of Personal Radiation Detectors as described in the September 2, 2004, FedBizOps notice for solicitation RFPHSBP1004R0177. The questions and answers are provided below for the information of all interested parties. 1)Question: Is it permissible to hand-deliver the PRDs to your facility prior to step 1 testing? Answer: Yes. On, but not before, the September 24, 2004, due date. The address is: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Procurement, Front Desk National Place 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1310 Washington, DC 20004 2) Question: In the fifth paragraph of the pre-solicitation notice it states ?offerors whose products pass this testing??. However, the SOW DHSs not indicate what the pass/fail requirements and criteria are and so can you detail these for us please? Answer: Each PRD will be evaluated against the requirements listed in the PRD SOW. There are hard pass/fail criteria (if PRD does not meet this requirement it is eliminated) and soft criteria, which will be based on numerical scoring. Instruments passing all the hard scoring criteria and then receiving 70% or more in the soft criteria will pass. 3)Question: In SOW section 2.0 (Documents) it is not clear which documents are inferred in items 3 & 4 (e.g. all ASME & all ASTM standards?) and what would be considered as the minimal requirements that one should meet and how conflicts between these many different standards would be resolved. Answer: The applicable ASME and ASTM standards. The main reference is the ANSI Standard N42.32. All other references are included for completeness. 4)Question: In SOW section 4.1.2 (Safety) will the PRD be used in a class I, II or III, division 1 hazardous location as specified in UL 913-2002? Answer: Current regulations do not allow carrying of electronic devices into these environments and thus they would be removed prior to entry. 5)Question: In SOW section 4.1.4 (Dimensions) it states optimal dimensions with a tolerance of +/-10%, DHSs this mean that physically smaller units of less than the minimum dimension are not desirable and will not be considered? Answer: The wording was selected carefully to illustrate the OPTIMUM size for the product not to specify any particular "must have" dimensions. All products submitted shall be considered if not grossly outside these parameters. 6)Question: In SOW section 4.1.7 (Display) how would alternative schemes to the display methodology given in the example be judged? Answer: The example cited is just that, an example, and is worded to convey CBP?s wish for the PRD display to show different levels of radiation intensity and the ability of the wearer to see this display when worn on the belt. However, the following display requirement will be judged (ref: 4.1.7) ?For PRD?s capable of detecting both gamma and neutrons, there shall be separate visual indicators differentiating between the type of alert. All displays shall be readable in direct sunlight, darkness and in all ambient light conditions in-between. The alerts and intensity readouts shall be easy to comprehend by non-technical users.? 7)Question: In SOW section 4.1.8 (Self check) is it ok to go to normal operational mode if no problems are detected and only display errors on an exception basis? Answer: Yes, the purpose of this feature is for the system to conduct a self-diagnostic check and convey to the operator that it is working correctly. 8)Question: In SOW section 4.1.10 (Search mode) as battery consumption is sighted as the reason for this mode if excellent battery consumption is achieved without this particular mode of operation (e.g. the unit is continually in search mode) how will this be evaluated? Answer: The PRD is required to have two modes of operation: a Detect mode, 4.1.9 and a search mode 4.1.10. Typically, entering into a search mode consumes the battery at an accelerated rate. CBP?s experience with several models separated this function of the PRD so as to conserve the batteries. Should a design be brought forward that allows for engaging the search mode with no significant increase in battery consumption it shall be acceptable. 9)Question: In SOW section 4.1.11 (Alarms) in sub-part 3., the intensity of the audile alarm is not quantified, how will this be evaluated? Answer: This is specified in ANSI Standard N42.32. Audible alarm intensity shall be measured in dB(A) at a set distance from the PRD. 10)Question: In SOW section 4.1.13 (Alarm threshold) to what level of gamma doserate intensity, for zero spill over into the neutron channel, is considered acceptable (e.g. would the minimum, maximum specified doserate of 3600 microrem/hour figure suffice)? Answer: The minimum (10 microrem/hr) and maximum (3600 microrem/hr) should suffice for this purpose 11)Question: In SOW section 5.2 (Sensitivity) the energy level for the neutron sensitivity is not specified, what is this required to be? Answer: The neutron energy level is the same as that from a Cf-252 source. Section 5.2 states ?PRD?s capable of detecting neutrons, shall have a sensitivity of .05 counts/second per neutron/sec/cm2?. A Cf-252 source and a 30 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm polymethylacrylate phantom will be used to measure the detection of neutrons. 12)Question: In SOW section 5.5.1 (Temperature) to what level of temperature shock (degrees C or F/hour) should the device be able to withstand? Answer: Temperature shock testing shall be accomplished according to ANSI Standard (N42.32). In a matter of minutes, the temperature shall be adjusted from: 1) 22 ?C (room temp) to 50 ?C (max operating temp.) and held for thirty minutes while system operation is monitored. In a matter of minutes, the temperature will then be lowered back to 22 ?C and held for thirty minutes while system operation is monitored. 2) 22 ?C (room temp) to - 20 ?C (min operating temp.) and held for thirty minutes while system operation is monitored. In a matter of minutes, the temperature will then be raised back to 22 ?C and held for thirty minutes while system operation is monitored. 13)Question: In SOW section 5.5.4 (Impact protection) as the PRD is required to be fully operable in its supplied gun belt holder will it be drop tested in this? Answer: The drop test will use an unprotected PRD unit (i.e. not in the gun belt or any other external holder). 14)Question: In SOW section 9.1 (PRD units) para. 2 requires the neutron capable units to be set to alarm at 1 neutron count/sec whereas section 4.1.13 requires 2 neutrons/cm2 /sec. What is the requirement? Answer: The requirement is 2 neutrons/cm2 /sec.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Deliveries to:, , 10720-N Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA
- Zip Code: 22079
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 22079
- Record
- SN00678141-W 20040923/040921211523 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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