SOLICITATION NOTICE
61 -- Research & Development on Scanning Probe Electrophoresis System
- Notice Date
- 8/14/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 611310
— Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-1640, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- SB1341-07-RQ-0397
- Response Due
- 8/20/2007
- Archive Date
- 9/4/2007
- Description
- The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The Solicitation Number is SB1341-07-RQ-0397; the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-18. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this solicitation is 611310, and the size standard is 1000 employees. (For size standards go to: htttp://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html) The National Institute of Standards and Technology has a requirement for technical support services described below. The Performance Work Statement is as follows: PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT I. BACKGROUND History of the activities surrounding this specific requirement: The work is to be done as part of a project funded by NIST Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory to research the development of fast time scale electrochemistry, defined as measurement of electrochemical processes at time scales of less than 10 nanoseconds. The goal of work is to determine methods to measure electrochemical signals at fast time scale and use them for motion control. The challenges inherent in performing these activities at radio frequency require a specialized skill set. The Contractor must have experience working with electrochemical systems using nanosecond timescale signals, using electrochemical signals for motion control systems, and use of the fast time scale electrochemical signals to measure electrochemical phenomena that are confined to nanometer-scale spatial dimensions. Why the Government has a need for this requirement: The Government has need for research and development associated with nanotechnology as a strategic focus area. Nanomanufacturing is a key area in this effort, and fast time scale nanoscale electrochemical measurement will provide significant benefits to those seeking to use electrochemistry for the creation of nanoscale products. Any inter-relationships within NIST, other agencies, or other organizations: No. Other information which would provide vendors with a better perspective of the requirement: A specialized skill set will be required to effectively perform the desired work. The contractor must have experience performing electrochemical machining, researching electrochemical systems using nanosecond timescale signals, using electrochemical signals for motion control systems, and use of the fast time scale electrochemical signals to measure electrochemical phenomena that are confined to nanometer-scale spatial dimensions as evidenced by prior work, publications, or patents. II. SCOPE OF WORK The purposes of this requirement are: 1. to determine viable component technologies for use in a fast time scale electrochemical measurement system at NIST. 2. to develop new methods for performing fast time scale electrochemical measurements on nanometer scale structures. 3. to test these methods to characterize the fast time scale electrochemical behavior of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy. Describe the objectives of the project: The objectives are: 1. to determine the optimum component configuration for use in fast time scale electrochemical measurement system 2. to develop methods for implementing fast time scale electrochemical measurements 3. to use the fast time scale electrochemical measurements to characterize the electrochemical behavior of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy at the nanoscale. Describe the deliverables or other project outputs: 1. Prototype fast time scale electrochemical measurement system 2. Oral progress reports and lab notebook documentation of work; 3. Preparation of a publication for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Describe the expected outcomes: Quantitative measurement of fast time scale electrochemical systems will be used to advance NIST?s infrastructural support for nano?manufacturing and for industries that require use of small-scale components. III. SPECIFIC TASKS Activities to be performed: The Contractor shall provide all labor and supervision to complete the following tasks: 1. Research and document current methods and materials for performing fast time scale electrochemical measurements by compiling a file of technical literature from scientific journals and commercial vendors that will thoroughly describe current materials and methods used. The state of the art in terms of frequency ranges used, limits of detection, and maximum measurement throughput should be determined. 2. Describe commercially-available technology for doing fast time scale electrochemistry and provide evaluation based on cost of commercial options vs. custom-built equipment. 3. Design and construct apparatus for performing fast time scale electrochemical measurements. 4. Develop experimental methods for performing fast time scale electrochemical measurements. 5. Carry out experimental investigation using the fast time scale electrochemical measurement system to characterize the fast time scale electrochemical behavior of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys. Measurements should be evaluated based on comparison to other analysis methods, including instrumented indentation and focused ion beam milling. Experiments should be conducted to allow for adequate statistical evaluation of data for publication in compliance with NIST WERB (located at: http://nvl-i.nist.gov/nvl2.cfm?doc_id=79) criteria of research and measurement results. 6. Record all work and data collection conditions and parameters in a laboratory notebook that shall remain the property of NIST. Maintain backed up archives of collected data. 7. Document results of the study and submit a written report. In performing these tasks, the contractor shall research the technical literature and solicit advice from experts in the various disciplines as appropriate in order to ensure best practice and technique. IV. DELIVERABLES AND REPORTS Data outputs. Describe the characteristics of the data: Frequency response functions of the measurement instrumentation and the nickel titanium electrochemical interface for fast time scales will be generated. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope of localized oxidative dissolution reaction sites will be obtained. Methodologies for sample preparation and data analysis will also be generated. Report outputs. Describe what is to be included in the report: The written report shall document currently used materials and methods for fast time scale electrochemical measurements, and evaluate this technology for possible use at NIST in terms of frequency ranges used, limits of detection, and maximum measurement throughput should be determined. Daily activities shall be documented in a laboratory notebook that will remain the property of NIST. Weekly oral status reports shall also be given that will include the status of the projects and tasks, and near term plans and projections. Significant measurements and research results shall be documented in manuscripts suitable for publication as a NIST internal report or in an external journal or thesis where warranted in compliance with NIST WERB criteria of research and measurement results. These manuscripts shall include procedures, data, and analysis. Non-data outputs. Describe the end items: 1. Experimental apparatus useful for fast time scale electrochemical measurement, and localized oxidative dissolution of materials. V. DELIVERABLE DUE DATES AND/OR PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE Performance Period: September 1, 2007 through July 1, 2008. List of due dates for each deliverable: 1. The Contractor shall provide a working prototype fast time scale electrochemical measurement system. Delivery due date: Six (6) months from effective date of award. 2. The Contractor shall provide a written report documenting the state of the art in fast time scale electrochemical measurement in terms in terms frequency ranges used, limits of detection, and maximum measurement throughput, and a written report documenting experimental efforts undertaken to study the use of fast time scale electrochemical measurements to study the fast time scale electrochemical behavior of nickel-titanium. A draft manuscript suitable for submission to a scientific journal in compliance with NIST WERB criteria of research and measurement results. Delivery due date: nine (9) months from effective date of award. List the period of performance for the task: 1. Month 1: General overview of fast time scale electrochemical measurement. Research and document current state-of-the-art in terms of frequency ranges used, limits of detection, and maximum measurement throughput. 2. Month 2: Describe commercially-available technology for fast time scale electrochemical measurement and provide evaluation of commercial options vs. custom-built equipment. 3. Month 3: Design a system for fast time scale electrochemical measurement, optimized in terms of frequency ranges used, limits of detection, and maximum measurement throughput. 4. Month 4 and 5: Develop measurement methods for use with the system designed in month 3, and test its operation compared to electrochemical measurements performed at slow time scales (defined as 1 microsecond timescales or greater). Instrumentation will be evaluated by comparing known frequency-independent properties to measurements, noting any differences between high and low frequency behavior. 5. Month 6 and 7: Use the measurements from months 4 and 5 to study the electrochemical machining of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy using fast time scale electrochemistry. 6. Month 8 and 9: Develop methods to measure the effect of the electrochemical machining on the mechanical properties of the nickel titanium using the atomic force microscope and instrumented indentation. Methods should allow for adequate statistical evaluation of data for publication in compliance with NIST WERB criteria (located at: http://nvl-i.nist.gov/nv.2.cfm?doc_id=7) 7. Months 10 and 11: Document results of the study, and prepare a written report. Report should contain documentation of the research conducted in compliance with the NIST policy on laboratory notebooks (located at http://www-i.nist.gov/div222/InventorHandbook/relations/notebooks.htm). VI. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY, DATA AND/OR INFORMATION List of property, data, facilities and information that Government will provide to the Contractor in performance of this project and the dates the items will be made available: The contractor will have access to the Tektronix high-bandwidth oscilloscope, Pine Bipotentiostat, the Asylum Research AFM, Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, precision electronics, and computers for data collection, wet chemical apparatus, and NIST library resources. VII. EXHIBITS AND ATTACHMENTS None VIII. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY how will we determine that success has been achieved? 1. Development of fast time scale electrochemical measurements for nanoscience and nano manufacturing. 1. Evaluation of current fast time scale electrochemical measurements. 2. Development of methods and apparatus for fast time scale electrochemical measurement. 3. Quantitative evaluation of the fast time scale electrochemical measurements by comparison to frequency independent information obtained by conventional means. The standard for completeness, timeliness and quality will be the completion of the specific tasks detailed in this contract in the specified timeline. Performance will be measured by examination of work output and lab notebooks. Work output will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR). IX. QUALITY CONTROL PLAN The offeror is responsible for developing and maintaining a Quality Control Plan which shall be submitted with their quote. The purpose of the Quality Control Plan is to ensure the tasks most critical to performance of the PWS are met. Quality will be maintained through weekly meetings between the contractor and the COTR in which progress will be monitored. X. QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN Describe how the Government will ensure that those tasks identified in the Performance Requirement Summary and the offeror?s Quality Control Plan will be monitored. I. Objective: The purpose of this plan is to provide a quality assurance surveillance plan for the research on fast time scale electrochemical measurements at NIST. This plan provides a basis for the COTR to evaluate the quality of the Contractor's performance. The oversight provided for in the Purchase Order will help to ensure that the topics and assessment are maintained at the required levels through the Period of Performance of the order. Furthermore, this plan will provide the COTR with a proactive way to avoid unacceptable or deficient performance. II. Performance Standards: 1. Quality Level: By monitoring the Contractor, the COTR will determine whether the Performance Standards set forth in the Purchase Order have been attained. Performance Standards for all tasks are specified in the Performance Requirements Summary of the Performance Work Statement. 2. Frequency: During the performance of the Order, the COTR will meet with the Contractor on a weekly basis to determine whether sufficient progress is being made toward project goals. Adjustments may only be made by a modification to the Purchase Order. 3. Management Responsiveness: The COTR will determine whether the Contractor has performed effectively and efficiently with successful completion of the topics and assessment as specified in the Performance Standards set forth in the Performance Requirements Summary. III. Evaluation Methods: The COTR will perform performance evaluations based on Section II above and the required Performance Standards set forth in the Purchase Order. The following techniques will be used to perform surveillance: 1. Weekly meetings will be attended by the COTR and Contractor to ensure sufficient progress is being made. Progress must match specified timeline. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING AN OFFER: 1. The offer MUST include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with their offer. This provision, as well as all other FAR clauses, is accessible on the Internet at: http://www.acqnet.gov/far under/Current FAR in either .html format or .pdf format. 2. The offer MUST include detailed specifications and any other relevant technical data in accordance with the attached PWS, 3. The Offeror MUST provide at least three (3), but preferably five (5), past performance references for SIMILAR contracts/orders completed within the past 3 years (or which are currently being completed), to include the name of the customer organization, a named point of contact in that organization that is familiar with the contract/order from a technical or contractual standpoint, their phone number, their email address, and their fax number; 4. List of assumptions made, if applicable, by the Offeror in submitting the quote that relate to Contractor performance after award. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD: Award will be made using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Subpart 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items. The provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation--Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Approach: 1) Past Performance information: Contractor must have demonstrated proficiency at fast timescale (of order 10 nanoseconds) electrochemical measurements on both metallic and semi conducting materials. This will be judged by the Contractor?s record of publishing work on this topic in journals with impact factors of 1.5 or greater. 2) Experience: The Offeror must have a PhD Degree in Chemical Engineering. 3) Evaluated price: Price shall be firm-fixed price for each document. Any discounts offered to the Government shall be identified. Non-price evaluation factors (1), and (2) are approximately equally important, and non-price evaluation factors, collectively, are approximately equally important to evaluated price. NOTE: The Contractor must be willing to perform the work at NIST On-Site. A Firm-Fixed-Price purchase order shall be awarded to the responsible Offeror whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, is determined to be most advantageous to the Government, evaluated price and other factors considered. To be eligible for award, an offeror must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Information on CCR registration procedures may be obtained at http://www.ccr.gov. In order to complete CCR registration, a DUNS number is required. To obtain a DUNS Number, contact Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., at 1-866-705-5711 or 610-882-7000. Questions regarding this solicitation must be sent by EMAIL ONLY to myrsonia.lutz@nist.gov. Any amendments to this solicitation will be posted at www.fedbizopps.gov only and will not be released by other means to potential Offerors. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52,212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items. The Government shall award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offerors whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial items, applies to this solicitation. The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation. The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial items, applies to this acquisition. The aforementioned FAR provisions cited in FAR 52.212-5 apply to this solicitation: 52.222-3; 52.222-19; 52.222-21; 52.222-26; 52.222-36; 52.225-3 ALTERNATIVE I; 52.225-13; 52.232-33. The following additional clause applies to this solicitation: FAR 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration, 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel, and 52.227-17 Right in data ? special works. Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition; INTERESETED OFFERORS ARE INVITED TO PROVIDE AN ELECTRONIC RESPONSE TO BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2007; 03:00:00 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME. OFFEROR MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETE RESPONSE. RESPONSES THAT ARE NOT SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE WILL BE RETURNED. QUOTES OF PARTIAL PERFORMANCE SHALL BE REJECTED. QUOTES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL ONLY IN .doc, .xls AND/OR .pdf FORMAT(S) TO MYRSONIA.LUTZ@NIST.GOV SO THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED AT THAT EMAIL ADDRESSES NO LATER THAN 03:00:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON THE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS SOLICITATION. THE ELECTRONIC VERSION SHALL BE IN THE FORM OF AN EMAIL WITH ATTACHMENTS. AWARD SHALL BE MADE TO THE RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTOR THAT QUOTES THE BEST VALUE TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE A SINGLE AWARD, MULTIPLE AWARDS, OR NO AWARD AS A RESULT OF THIS RFQ. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFEROR TO CONFIRM NIST?S RECEIPT OF QUOTE.
- Record
- SN01371669-W 20070816/070814220411 (fbodaily.com)
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