DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with Oxford Instruments Asylum Research, Inc., located at 6310 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, CA, 93117-3115, to fulfill the below requirement.e

The sole source justification is based on the following: The Material Measurement Laboratory’s Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD) conducts research on the development of innovative metrologies and measurement protocols for micro/nano-scale heterosystems analysis. Measurement techniques are used to determine sample composition as well as structural, electronic, and chemical properties of a wide variety of organic, inorganic and biomolecular systems where materials of interest are typically present as either micro/nano-scale features or monolayer/multilayer films. 

To meet mission requirements; the MMSD has a need for an Asylum Research ARC2 AFM controller upgrade to an existing Asylum Research MFP-3D atomic force microscope (AFM). This controller upgrade will be used in the development of a high resolution, simultaneous optical and atomic force microscope. To maintain system performance and serviceability, NIST requires a 100% compatible upgrade for the existing system in terms of electromechanical coupling, computer control, and automatic module detection (plug-and-play). Asylum Research has developed the technology and has proprietary rights to the technology used in the upgrade. The upgrade must be hardware and software compatible with the existing equipment. Asylum Research is the sole US distributor. Deviating away from the Asylum Research, AFM controller upgrade would result in a reduced level of performance, costly re-engineering of existing equipment, and/or a total failure of the AFM platform.  

The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 334516 with a size standard of 1000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 8:00 am EST August 3,  2020, 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.