SOLICITATION NOTICE
N -- Installation of a Vaccum Balance into a Chamber
- Notice Date
- 4/22/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 811310
— Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance
- 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, Maryland, 20899-1640
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1640
- Solicitation Number
- CAW-08-04812
- Response Due
- 4/30/2008
- Point of Contact
- Carol A. Wood,, Phone: 301-975-8172
- E-Mail Address
-
carol.wood@nist.gov
- Description
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Acquisition Management Division (AMD), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, on behalf of the Manufacturing Metrology Division, with Mettler-Toledo, Inc. of Columbus, OH, for the installation of an existing Mettler-Toledo vacuum-compatible balance into an existing vacuum chamber. The Mass & Force Group of the Manufacturing Metrology Division in the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory at NIST maintains and disseminates the SI unit of mass, the Kilogram. As such it provides to the 50 States, state and federal agencies, as well as private entities and individuals and sometimes foreign entities, a calibration service which disseminates the unit of mass based on the National Kilogram Standard of Mass. The mass standard is artifact-based which is susceptible to damage or destruction. New alternative methods for the realization of the kilogram leading to a non-artifact-based system are currently under development and they require mass measurements in vacuum. The installation of an existing10-kilogram vacuum balance into a NIST-supplied vacuum chamber system is a crucial part of developing the required vacuum mass measurement methods. The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials and expertise necessary for the installation of NIST’s existing Mettler-Toledo AX10005V 10-kilogram vacuum-compatible balance (“vacuum balance”) into NIST’s vacuum chamber system (“chamber”). The vacuum balance must remain operational according to manufacturer’s specifications upon completion of the installation into the chamber. The vacuum chamber is divided into two chambers – an upper and lower chamber. The vacuum balance must be installed in the upper chamber and tested to meet the specified requirements on-site at NIST’s Mass and Force Group facilities. This requirement is being procured on a sole source basis. Sole source determination is based on the following: The contemplated effort is a follow-on acquisition to continue development on a highly specialized piece of equipment as described in FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii). NIST cites FAR 6.302-1(a)(ii)(A) and (B) (see excerpt below) as primary rationale for Sole Source Determination. (ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in— (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition, or (B) Unacceptable delays fulfilling the agency’s requirements. (See 10 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1)(B) or 41 U.S.C. 253 (d)(1)(B). The vacuum-compatible balance was awarded via a competitive request for quotation. Award was made in September 2005. The requirement to install the vacuum-compatible balance into the chamber was required by the statement of work for the balance. The Contractor agreed to complete the installation into the vacuum chamber via a follow-on purchase order. Mettler-Toledo has consulted with NIST during the in-house development of the vacuum chamber. Mettler has specialized knowledge regarding the chamber and the required installation. Furthermore, the vacuum-compatible balance is currently under warranty with Mettler Toledo. To have an alternate source perform this work would void the manufacturer’s warranty. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by April 28, 2008, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3854ece5a21040472a8cf04dcad6838b&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 21742, United States
- Zip Code: 21742
- Zip Code: 21742
- Record
- SN01558735-W 20080424/080422220817-3854ece5a21040472a8cf04dcad6838b (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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