GB-London: Imaging System for the National Gallery

The National Gallery will be seeking to procure an imaging system for the capture of two-dimensional archival material. This material will vary in size and support media (e.g. paper-based, photographs, film, etc.) so a flexible capture system is required. Much of the material is fragile and sensitive to heat so a system which does not apply excessive pressure or heat when imaging is essential.

A replacement system is sought that will be capable of digitising archival materials in both reflected and transmitted light modes. This system should be capable of producing very high quality images capable of meeting the archival imaging standard ISO19264 if properly calibrated (with 16-bit per channel colour, high spatial resolution, accurate tonal and colour capture, uniformity of illumination, minimal noise and geometric distortion). The system should have a sampling frequency of no less than 800 ppi over an area of 12x16". The system should be designed for high throughput usage, ideally with instant capture, and be able to capture material with minimal pressure and heat transfer to the archival material. For this reason, non-contact imaging systems such as planetary scanners or systems based on digital still cameras are preferred over flatbed scanners.

The system should support an archival workflow in line with best practices for digitisation; for example, the ability to output multiple derivative file formats, to disable any sharpening applied and add detailed image metadata. The system should have a motorised stand for automatic raising and lowering of the imaging system. A user-friendly software interface suitable for use by both imaging professionals and relative novices given appropriate training is required. The various hardware parts should be fully integrated within the software, allowing full control from within the capture software. It should be possible to automatically change the height of the imaging system on the motorised stand within the software for example.

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.