High-speed Video Cameras

FBO ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT

ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICE

SUBJECT: Sole source – High-speed Video Cameras for Quantitative Analysis of Impact Tests

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB643100-26-01509

RESPONSE DATE: 8/29/26

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Security Technologies Group has existing high-speed video cameras that are used for a wide variety of testing, and the resulting videos are analyzed to quantify test results. All of our available cameras are routinely used together for complex tests. The new cameras are intended to be used with the existing cameras to allow tests that NIST cannot currently perform, such as stereo imaging of both the front and back of an armor specimen during a ballistic impact. This requires that all cameras be synchronized so that each camera begins to record at the same instant, and each video frame is taken at the same time on all cameras. Setup and configuration of the cameras for such tests require specialized software, which generally supports only one manufacturer's cameras. In addition, while videos produced by such software will typically be in standard formats, meta-data files that are needed by analysis software tend to be in manufacturer specific formats. All the existing high-speed video cameras used for ballistics testing are from a single manufacturer, Photron, are supported by the software package Photron FASTCAM Viewer (PFV). Other NIST research who routinely collaborate with the Security Technologies Group also have compatible cameras from Photron, allowing multiple groups to easily share equipment when necessary.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR Part 12.102(b) with Tech Imaging Services, Inc. located in Saugus, MA, for these cameras.

Sole Source justification is based on the following:

Market research has shown that purchasing cameras that are not...