Demande d'information (DI) - Système Fixe d'Imagerie d'échelle moyenne

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with
Peru/Colombia/Panama
Tendering Procedures:
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements:
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) - Fixed-Site Medium Scale Imaging
System (FS-MSI)

The closing date is changed to April 22, 2014 at 2pm.

This is not a bid solicitation

INTRODUCTION

Public Works and Government Services Canada on behalf of Canada
Border Services Agency (CBSA) is seeking feedback from industry,
and in particular Fixed-Site Medium Scale Imaging (FS-MSI)
Systems Suppliers.

OBJECTIVES OF THE RFI

The purpose of the Request for Information is to determine what
is currently available on the market for the FS-MSI type systems
and to assess the footprint, imaging capabilities, site and
operational requirements for those systems. This RFI contains a
list of specific questions and requests for additional
documentation with regards to the FS-MSI systems.

NATURE OF RFI

This is not a bid solicitation. This RFI will not result in the
award of any contract. As a result, potential suppliers of any
goods or services described in this RFI should not reserve stock
or facilities, nor allocate resources, as a result of any
information contained in this RFI. Nor will this RFI result in
the creation of any source list. Therefore, whether or not any
potential supplier responds to this RFI will not preclude that
supplier from participating in any future procurement. Also, the
procurement of any of the goods and services described in this
RFI will not necessarily follow this RFI. This RFI is simply
intended to solicit feedback from industry.

NATURE AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES REQUESTED

Respondents are requested to provide their comments, concerns
and, where applicable, alternative recommendations regarding how
the requirements or objectives described in this RFI could be
satisfied. Respondents should explain any assumptions they make
in their responses.

RESPONSE COSTS

Canada will not reimburse any respondent for expenses incurred
in responding to this RFI.

RESPONSES AND ENQUIRIES

Respondents are reminded that this is a RFI and not a Request
for Proposal (RFP).

Responses will not be formally evaluated. However, the responses
received may be used by Canada to develop or modify procurement
strategies or any draft documents contained in this RFI. Canada
will review all responses received by the RFI closing date.
Canada may, in its discretion, review responses received after
the RFI closing date.

A review team composed of representatives of the client and
PWGSC will review the responses on behalf of Canada. Canada
reserves the right to hire any independent consultant, or use
any Government resources that it considers necessary to review
any response. Not all members of the review team will
necessarily review all responses.

Confidentiality: Respondents should mark any portions of their
response that they consider proprietary or confidential. Canada
will handle the responses in accordance with the Access to
Information Act.

Canada may, in its discretion, contact any respondents to follow
up with additional questions or for clarification of any aspect
of a response.

PREFACE

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses a number of
Fixed-Site Medium Scale Imaging (FS-MSI) Systems for inspection
of imported goods for border security applications and trade
facilitation. These devices are used to detect concealed objects
(contraband, weapons, restricted plants or animals) and/or to
validate the presence of legitimate, properly declared goods
without the need for more extensive search methods. CBSA is
looking to procure four FS-MSI systems with the options for
additional systems. These systems must be high-energy
radiography systems with all the necessary shielding, source
controls and interlocking subsystems to ensure safe operation in
a busy port-of-entry environment. FS-MSI systems will be used
indoor in a warehouse-type environment.

QUESTIONS TO INDUSTRY

General Questions

1) What is the tunnel size opening of the proposed system?

Is the system capable of scanning targets 2.45 m x 2.45 m x 2.75
m (8' x 8' x 9') [L x W x H] most commonly mounted on wooden
pallets?

Is the system capable of scanning longer objects in multiple
sections?

What are the size and weight limits for scanned objects?

Can it scan non-palletized or non-cubic objects (pipes, lumber,
machine parts, etc.)?

Is it possible for the system to scan passenger cars satisfying
the target dimensions (if "yes", please specify if any system
modification or additional equipment is necessary for this
functionality)?

2) What is/are the scanning speed(s) (in m/s) of the system?

Can speeds be toggled by an operator?

What is the maximum number of loads (pallets) that can be
scanned per hour?

3) What are the dimensions of the physical system?

Is the system modular?

4) Is there an operator booth and if so is it attached to the
system or separate?

Does the operator booth have line of sight?

Where is it located in the flow?

5) What is the finalphysical footprint of the system?

What is the total footprint of the system including any
radiation safety zone (or exclusion zone) required to ensure
that dose rates remain below 5 µSv/hr?

6) What is the gross weight of the system?

What is the required floor loading capacity to hold the system
(in psi or Mpa)?

7) What are the shipping dimensions and requirements?

What is the shipping weight of the system?

8) What is the conveyor (or roller bed) height from the floor?

What is the conveyor (or roller bed) capacity?

Is the conveyor system, constructed in a manner that impedes
debris from entering inaccessible areas, or constructed so that
areas where debris may enter are easily accessible for regular
cleaning and maintenance?

Does the system include a conveyor subsystem?

Conveyor subsystem is defined as powered means of moving targets
from the point loading, to scanning position then to point of
extraction?

9) What are the power requirements?

10) What are the environmental limitations (operating
temperature, humidity, etc...)?

11) What is the format of stored images and scan data?

12) Is the system network ready?

What are the networking specifications for the system?

How can the system present the stored images and scan data for
remote archiving and analysis?

13) What is the maximum dose rate that could be measured at any
point 5 cm from the exterior of the system?

What is the ambient dose within the radiation safety zone during
continuous operation?

What is the neutron background of the system when in operation?

14) Does the system have integrated radiation detection
capability?

15) How many operators are required forregular day-to-day
operations?

16) Has the system been certified and deployed in Canada before
(if "yes", please list locations of deployment)?

Imaging Questions

17) What is the energy of the X-ray source, radioactive isotope
or Linac used by the system?

18) What is the location of the radiation beam (side-viewing,
top-viewing system, dual-view system)?

Does the system deploy stationary generator/source and detector
array (i.e. only conveyor on which pallet is placed moves during
the scan)?

19) What is the typical penetration in steel?

Whatis the spatial resolution in the horizontal and vertical
directions?

What is the minimum observable wire size?

20) Isthe system capable of material discrimination (organic,
inorganic, intermediate, high-z, etc.)?

What is the minimum thickness of organic material (e.g. plastic)
that the system can distinguish?

What level of image resolution (for high-Z and low-Z materials)
is the system capable of achieving?

21) Does the system have tomographic capabilities (3-D)?

22) What are the image manipulation tools available to the
operator?

Can an operator compare two different images on the same screen
(i.e. an image of an accepted load compared with an anomalous
image)?

Timeline Questions

23) What are the expected minimum and average times required to
deliver and install FS-MSI systems at various locations in
Canada (time between Contract Award and Site Acceptance Testing)?

24) Procurement process involves Pre-award testing - Data
Validation Test (DVT) component. Upon review of paper bids
submitted in response to the RFP, the bidder must make a
fully-functioning system available for an independent DVT test
performed by the CBSA specialist. What is the minimum and
average times needed to arrange for this (time between the
announcement of successful paper bid evaluation and the DVT
test)?

25) How long are the operator and technician training sessions?

What is the maximum number of operators that may be trained in
one session?

26) What is the life expectancy of the system?

Additional Information Requested

The CBSA would like to receive:

A) Documentation for image quality measurements: The CBSA would
like to receive a completed Image Quality Test Record: Summary
of Results; Annex B of the ANSI N42.46-2008 Standard (or
equivalent documentation) for the proposed system.

B) Sample library of images (in JPEG or other standard format)
taken by the proposed system; suggested images for this
collection include but are not limited to:

• Images taken while competing Annex B of the ANSI N42.46-2008

Standard

• Images of a very dense pallet-sized cargo (worst case scenario

for penetration)

• Images showing hidden guns or other contraband (if available)
• Any other images that the manufacturer would like to provide

C) System installation layout drawings showing dimensions of the
system and clearly marked isodose contour when the system is in
operation. The isodose contour is defined as a contour of points
on which the time-averaged radiation dose is 0.5 µSv (0.05 mrem
or 50 µrem) in any 1 hr measured at a height of 1 m above ground
level.
D) Photographic collection of images: a collection of
photographic images (in JPEG format) of the proposed system.

E) List of locations at which the similar system is already in
operation.

F) List of current certificates that the system has.

G) Any other relevant information with regards to the proposed
system that the manufacturer would like to provide.

ENQUIRIES

Because this is not a bid solicitation, Canada will not
necessarily respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating
answers to all potential suppliers. However, respondents with
questions regarding this Request for Information may direct
their enquiries to:

Anne Caron
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Acquisitions Branch
Commercial Consumer Products Directorate
11 Laurier Street, 6A2, Phase III
Place du Portage, Hull, Quebec, K1A 0S5

Telephone: (819) 956-3874
Facsimile: (819) 956-3814
E-mail address: a••••••••@••••••••.••.ca

SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

Public Works and Government Services Canada requests that
respondents submit their written responses to the issues
referenced herein or any additional comments/concerns or
alternate recommendations on how this requirement can be
satisfied via electronic mail to the Contracting Authority named
herein.

CLOSING DATE:

Responses to this Request for Information will be accepted at
any time until April 22, 2014.

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.