Inactive

Notice of Intent: This requirement is conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b). This is a notice of intent to negotiate on a sole source basis and is not a request for competit... Notice of Intent: This requirement is conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b). This is a notice of intent to negotiate on a sole source basis and is not a request for competitive quotations. Firms who want to challenge the sole source must submit an interest letter that demonstrates your firm's ability to provide an equivalent service as described below. Interested parties must provide rationale as to why they should be considered. All interested firms must respond to this special notice by the date specified herein. Responses received will be assessed; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion for the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. NIST will not reimburse for any costs connected with providing the capability information. Description: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate and award on a sole-source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b) with Orsay Physics, in France. Sole Source determination is based on the market research that shows only one vendor can comply to this critical need that meets all the NIST technical requirements. The NAICS code of 541690 for Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a small business size standard of $16.5M. DELIVERABLES: The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide integration and training to the NSENSE project including the following tasks: Knowledge transfer on the set-up and operation of the SEM, including setting the source current, voltage, and aperture settings to provide for maximal current with minimal beam spot sizes across the entire voltage and current operating ranges of the instrument. Determine and report the minimal beam spot size achieved with the hardware installed in the NIST labs for SEM current settings of 100 pA, 1 nA, and 10 nA at SEM voltage settings of 15keV, 20 keV, and 25 keV. Demonstration and knowledge transfer on how to bake the nanospace chamber Replace and repair the ion pump controller Demonstrate successful operation of the ion pump Demonstrate ultra-high vacuum levels below 1 x 10-9 torr Provide access to the SEM source control software Assess and report the level of beam vibration and survey the laboratory space for possible sources of vibrational and beam instability such as magnetic fields, acoustic noise, and pick-up through the isolation table. Demonstrate vibrational levels below 2 nm Replace the damaged blanking box Replace the SEM aperture module (MVA) Install interlocked safety light Identify the source and assess magnitude of sample charging and its effects on beam drift Repair the SEM if it is identified as the source of the charging Post-visit support via email and teleconferences. Justification to Sole Source: Impact to Mission: If this purchase requisition is not awarded to Orsay Physics, the research will be greatly delayed requiring the principal investigator to hire additional staff to start the project over as a new agreement to coordinate this multi-faceted project comprised of numerous research collaborators. Not only would this delay progress on this important work but more importantly, damage our relationship with research collaborators across the industry and the sponsor IARPA, NIST’s partner in the National Strategic Computing Initiative. Due to these reasons, it is necessary and cost-effective to sole source this purchase from Orsay Physics.

Inactive

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that are capable of providing the services described here... THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that are capable of providing the services described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition. The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide integration and training to the NSENSE project including the following tasks: Knowledge transfer on the set-up and operation of the SEM, including setting the source current, voltage, and aperture settings to provide for maximal current with minimal beam spot sizes across the entire voltage and current operating ranges of the instrument. Determine and report the minimal beam spot size achieved with the hardware installed in the NIST labs for SEM current settings of 100 pA, 1 nA, and 10 nA at SEM voltage settings of 15keV, 20 keV, and 25 keV. Demonstration and knowledge transfer on how to bake the nanospace chamber Replace and repair the ion pump controller Demonstrate successful operation of the ion pump Demonstrate ultra-high vacuum levels below 1 x 10-9 torr Provide access to the SEM source control software Assess and report the level of beam vibration and survey the laboratory space for possible sources of vibrational and beam instability such as magnetic fields, acoustic noise, and pick-up through the isolation table. Demonstrate vibrational levels below 2 nm Replace the damaged blanking box Replace the SEM aperture module (MVA) Install interlocked safety light Identify the source and assess magnitude of sample charging and its effects on beam drift Repair the SEM if it is identified as the source of the charging Post-visit support via email and teleconferences This announcement is not a Request for Quotation (RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available at this time. Additionally, The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this sources sought announcement. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-aside categories will be considered. In addition, this market research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. NIST anticipates awarding a firm fixed price purchase order for commercial professional services. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage that can fulfil the requirement, in accordance with the requirement descriptions and technical specifications indicated in the tasks above extracted from the DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW), then this acquisition shall be solicited as a small business set aside. However, NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses (SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB and VOSB). This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 541690 for Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a small business size standard of $16.5M. The specific purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is to determine if there are small businesses, within the parameters identified above, that can provide the Services identified in the DRAFT SOW (see extracted tasks listed above). Interested business organizations that believe they are capable of meeting the requirement should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to five (5) pages or less. Responses should include the following information: Name of company that will provide the service and GSA contract number. 2. Identification and verification of the company’s small business status. 3. Company Profile to include number of employees, office location(s), DUNS number and Cage Code. 4. Relevant experience within the last five years, including any contract number, and Government/Agency or firm point of contact (POC) and current telephone number for the POC. 5. Identify if you were a subcontractor and the work actually performed as the sub-contractor. 6. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing our service requirement and finalizing our market research. (Company sales brochures or marketing packages will not be considered).