The Library of Congress intends to purchase through sole source from New Wave Research, 48660 Kato Road, Fremont, CA 94539, a New Wave Research 213-nm Nd:YAG Tempest II Laser Ablation System for an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer that can also be used with a mass spectrometer that will be used for research and routine testing of a broad range of Library collection materials, collection housing materials, and collection environments. It is the Library’s understanding that the identified 213-nm Nd:YAG laser is the only one commercially available in the U.S. that is capable of meeting the Library’s critical performance requirement for a laser ablation system that also meets the following needs: It must be a dedicated, deep UV, internally homogenized 213-nm Nd:YAG laser that can provide high absorption for UV transparent materials (> 80% for calcite), fine particle size distribution of ablated material (all particles 200% increase of signal), low depth of penetration (to < 0.1µm/shot) for high depth-spatial resolution, and an ablation spot size down to 4 microns; it must have a hybrid-resonator with energy output via a motorized, software-controlled optical attenuator to deliver variable amounts of energy (maximum of at least 27 J/cm2) measured at the sample by a built-in energy meter that can be monitored in real time; it must have a safety system that is an Open Architecture Class 1 shield plus interlocks to accommodate large format and specialty sample cells and permit direct viewing of the sample during ablation; it must have a software-controlled gear-driven aperture wheel to control the beam size with constant energy density to provide spot sizes ranging from 4-110 microns, and a beam expander to control beam size with varying energy density to allow automated switching between focused beam and aperture imaging modes; the sample stage must have 0.20-micron resolution and travel up to 52 mm in both the x and y planes with calibration in the x, y, and z directions; the sample chamber must be cassette style and measure at least 60 mm ID x 52 mm inside height for thin sections, thick sections, irregular specimens and standards; the sample cells must include a paper/wafer cell and a minimum-volume low-flow sample cell; it must include a color CCD camera and frame grabber that is software controlled with magnification 5.6 to 36X optical and 180X to 1200X image magnification to provide optical resolution of at least 2 microns; the laser ablation software must be able to operate with an OES or MS computer and monitor and allow for bi-directional control between the laser system and the OES or MS data collection software via TTL/CMOS compatible signal voltages or switch relay closures; and real-time sample viewing during ablation must be possible so that easy targeting of sample micro-features is possible using cross-hair positioning with software control of three light sources with variable intensity. Any other company that, at the time of application, (1) is either legally incorporated as a U.S. business entity or capable of demonstrating through its business plan its intention to be fully incorporated as a U.S. business, and (2) believes its GC-MS system can meet all the above equipment performance requirements can apply to the Library for consideration. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Library to Arneen Dozier via email at
[email protected]. No phone call please