UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT: 19-114
NIRvana:640 InGaAs camera system
The University of Waterloo (UW) intends to award a single source contract to Delta Photonics of
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for the purchase of a two-dimensional InGaAs near infrared camera system.
The budget for this entire package is approximately $100,000 USD, not including tax/HST.
This is an Advanced Notice indicating to the supplier community that UW intends to award a contract
for this equipment to a pre-identified supplier. If no other supplier submits, on or before the
closing date of this notice, a statement of specifications that satisfies the stated requirements
set out in this Notice, the competitive requirements of the University are considered to have been
met. Following notification to any suppliers not successful in demonstrating that their statement
of specifications meets the requirements set out in this Notice, the contract may then be awarded
to the pre-identified supplier.
If other potential suppliers submit statements of specifications during the fifteen calendar day
posting period, and meet the requirements set out in this Notice, UW will proceed to a Request for
Proposal process, in order to award the contract.
Process - Suppliers who can provide equivalent equipment with proven functionality required for the
research, within budget, are encouraged to submit a statement of specifications, in writing, to the
contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The
statement of specifications must unequivocally demonstrate how the supplier meets these advertised
requirements within budget.
SPECIFICATIONS –
The required system includes a complete InGaAs camera imaging system with the following features:
1. GigE computer interface. Industry standard for fast data transfer over long distance. Ability to
use the camera remotely >50m over gigabit Ethernet cable; longer over fiberoptic (optional)
interface kits
2. Scientific grade 640x512 InGaAs FPA sensor
3. Cooled via maintenance free multi-stage thermoelectric cooling with air (-80°C guaranteed @
+20°C ambient) and/or liquid (-85°C typical with +15°C liquid circulation)
4. Fan can be turned off completely even extended periods of time if vibration is a concern
5. Complete 64 bit software support with LightField, providing real time, online processing, the
ability to seamlessly integrate into larger experiments using available LabView toolkit, automatic
defect correction and a host of innovative functions for easy capture and export of imaging and
spectral data. Built in math engine to support custom on-line data processing and built in drivers
for LabVIEW and MATLAB software. Automated background subtraction. Software selectable low gain and
high gain modes of operation
6. Interface and control for Princeton Instruments spectrographs
7. Multiple readout speed support – 2 MHz / 5MHz / 10 MHz
8. Custom cold shield – f#/1.5 to limit ambient thermal background
9. Capability to drive an external shutter
10. 16-bit digitization
11. All-metal vacuum seals: Scientific grade InGaAs sensor encased in all-metal, permanently sealed
vacuum chamber. No re-pumping or regular maintenance necessary. No cooling degradation over time or
troublesome condensation on the sensor. Lifetime guarantee on the vacuum performance. The vacuum
window is ‘brazed’ (glass-to-metal molecular bond) to the vacuum chamber for the highest
reliability to maintain deep cooling
12. High frame rate: Up to 110 full frames per second at 10 MHz with fully integrated triggering
support for external synchronization
13. Integration Time: Ability to expose as short as 2 us up to many minutes
14. Thermostating precision 0.05 °C across entire temperature range
15. Dark current <25 e-/pixel/sec @ -80 °C looking at cold target at -174 °C (+99 °K) measured at
2MHz in High Gain mode
16. Read noise <100 e- rms measured at 1 us exposure in high gain mode
17. Mount offerings: C mount and Spec Mount included, interchangeable
18. 20 x 20 µm pixels
19. Single fused silica window, AR coated, for high transmission in SWIR range
20. Seamless integration and compatibility with existing lab Princeton Instruments infrastructure
throughout IQC
The package from Delta Photonics includes:
1. On-going basic remote and on-site technical support
2. For delivery and completed installation and integration one (1) day after the order date
SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION
Other InGaAs cameras in this budget range do not offer the above suite of specifications which are
crucial to performing state-of-the-art experiments for research. (With the aforementioned
specifications and full features, the prices of brand-new two-dimensional high-quality InGaAs
camera systems exceed our budget of $100,000 USD.) To our knowledge, there are currently no other
systems available for competitive comparison both in relation to price and functionality.
Date of issue: November 6, 2019,
Closing Date: November 21, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. EST
Contact:
Christine Wagner, CPPB, CSCP – Research Coordinator and Senior Buyer Procurement and Contract
Services
University of Waterloo
Ph: 519-888-4567 ext. 32074
Email – cpwagner@uwaterloo.ca, or, procure@uwaterloo.ca