This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is an invitation by the University of Ottawa (the “University”) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for CT Scan System, as further described in Appendix D (RFP Particulars) Section A (the “Deliverables”).
This procurement involves the acquisition of a CT-Scan system (RFP 43007-4a). This instrument will be part of the Advanced Multi-Physical Infrastructure Materials Characterization Suite, a platform dedicated to the study of sustainable and durable infrastructure. The suite will enable the comprehensive evaluation of conventional and eco-efficient concretes, recycled aggregates, and other innovative materials under multi-physical conditions that combine mechanical loading with environmental actions. The integration of these instruments will support a research program aimed at advancing the design, rehabilitation, and climate adaptation of infrastructure systems.
The CT-Scan system represents the core imaging component of the characterization suite. It will provide three-dimensional, non-destructive visualization of the internal microstructure of concrete and related materials, including pores, cracks, aggregate–paste interfaces (i.e., interfacial transition zone), and reinforcement and restraint zones. This capability is essential for linking physical deterioration phenomena to chemical signatures obtained by the micro-XRF analyzer and to particle properties assessed through laser diffraction and shape analysis. It will enable high-resolution imaging across a wide range of specimen sizes, from small laboratory-prepared samples to larger extracted cores up to approximately 100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length, thus allowing multi-scale investigations of durability mechanisms. Its role is fundamental to correlating internal damage progression with performance models, providing insights that cannot be obtained by conventional destructive testing.
