SPECIAL NOTICE
66 -- Microscopy cryostat and heating stage � Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source
- Notice Date
- 8/5/2024 1:40:25 PM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST GAITHERSBURG MD 20899 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20899
- Solicitation Number
- AMD-SS24-73
- Response Due
- 8/16/2024 8:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 08/31/2024
- Point of Contact
- Joni L. Laster, Forest Crumpler
- E-Mail Address
-
joni.laster@nist.gov, forest.crumpler@nist.gov
(joni.laster@nist.gov, forest.crumpler@nist.gov)
- Description
- ***THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE*** The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a Microscopy cryostat and heating stage. If no alternate sources are identified, the Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to MCCRONE MICROSCOPES & ACCESSORIES LLC., 850 PASQUINELLI DR WESTMONT, IL 60559-5539, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516.� The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Nanoscale Device Characterization Division (NDCD) develops and advances the measurement and knowledge infrastructure to characterize nano- and atom-scale engineered materials and solid-state devices for innovation in information processing, sensing, and future quantum technologies. The NDCD�s technical activities span atom scale devices, nanoscale spectroscopy, nanoscale imaging, nanoscale processes and measurements, and alternative computing. To meet mission requirements, the NDCD needs to procure a microscopy optical cryostat and heating stage. This acquisition will allow the division to improve its capabilities in the spectroscopic measurement of color centers and excitonic devices to further their development as platforms for quantum sensing/communication The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)� Physical Measurements Laboratory (PML) Nanoscale Device Characterization Division (NDCD) requires a Microscopy cryostat and heating stage for spectroscopic measurement of color centers and excitonic devices. This is necessary to determine the performance of these optoelectronic materials as quantum sensors. The measurements require spatial resolution that is not achievable without coupling them to an optical microscope. Temperature control is essential to this research. In many cases, the sensor performance improves dramatically at reduced temperatures due to a decrease in phonon noise. While helium cooling would be prohibitively expensive for these sensors to be used commercially, liquid nitrogen is acceptably priced. Additional research will require elevated temperatures. This includes optical measurements of color centers in wide band gap semiconductors for power electronics operating at temperatures up to 600 �C. We require fine control of temperature to develop optical thermometry at high temperatures. The need for in operando optical measurements of electronic devices necessitates that the optical cryostat/heating stage also has four built-in connections for electrical measurements. The sample holder must also be small enough to be easily incorporated into our existing spectroscopic microscopes. The new temperature-control capability afforded by this procurement will support the NDCD�s Nanoscale Spectroscopy Group, which develops and advances optical, electrical, and magnetic spectroscopic measurement methods for nanoscale characterization of materials and applies this knowledge to nanoscale devices. This new characterization capability is an essential component of the NDCD�s ongoing efforts to develop color centers and excitonic materials as a platform for future quantum sensing technologies. Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) 0001: The Contractor shall provide one (1) microscopy cryostat and heating stage that meets the following minimum specifications: The system shall meet or exceed the technical specifications identified below. All items shall be new. Prototypes, first articles, demonstration models, used, refurbished or otherwise developmental systems, will not be considered for award. A. Must serve as an air-tight temperature-controlled cryostat and heating stage. B. Must be compatible with a typical benchtop/tabletop optical microscope vertical imaging. C. Must cool the sample to liquid nitrogen temperature (-195 �C, 77 K). D. Must heat the sample to 600 �C (873 K). E. Must have a digital control system that allows for temperature selection between the highest and lowest temperatures. F. Must have an optical window for reflection spectroscopy. G. Must have a second window opposite the first for transmission spectroscopy. H. Optical windows must be at least 20 mm across in size. I. Optical windows must be made of a material with low absorbance across the visible region, such as quartz. J. Must be able to accommodate samples up to 20 mm in diameter. K. Must have a working distance from the microscope objective to the sample of 5 mm or less. L. Must have a sample chamber that can be either evacuated or purged with inert gas. M. Must have temperature stability of 0.02 �C or less. N. Must be able to accommodate in situ electrical measurements. O. Must have access to four separate electrical probes. P. Connections for electrical probes must be a common type, such as BNC. NIST conducted market research from May 2024 � June 2024 by, speaking with colleagues, performing internet searches, and speaking with vendors to determine what sources could meet NIST�s minimum requirements.� The results of that market research revealed that only MCCRONE MICROSCOPES & ACCESSORIES LLC., (UEI: DP3QGAC2VMN6) can meet all the Governments minimum requirements. � HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response.� Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice. Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company�s Unique Entity ID (UEI). Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST�s minimum requirements. Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization. Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm�s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why.� Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses. For the NAICS code Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.� See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information. If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement.� If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information. Describe your firm�s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section. Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement. Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government�s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section.� QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 11:00. Eastern Time on August 10, 2024.� Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline. IMPORTANT NOTES The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.� This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.� This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations. No award will be made as a result of this notice.� NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate. Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/5cc72476a2b94fa6909fbe1945db8418/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
- Zip Code: 20899
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 20899
- Record
- SN07156016-F 20240807/240805230113 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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