The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks information on acquiring an Anthropomorphic Robotic Hand. A component of the Robot Systems for Smart Manufacturing Program is focused on the development of performance metrics and test methods for robotic hands. Robotic hand performance evaluations will help to match the capabilities of hands to end-user needs as well as to provide developers of these hands insight for improving their product designs.
After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, and specifications developed, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a Purchase Order. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then any competitive procurement that resulted would be conducted as a small business set-aside.

Requirements

Capabilities and Characteristics Requirements

The Contractor shall provide
Specifications of anthropomorphic robotic hands:
1.) Four or more fingers including an opposable thumb
2.) High Degree of Actuation (degrees of freedom near equal degrees of actuation)
3.) High Degree of Freedom (3 or more degrees of freedom per finger)
4.) Palm
5.) With or without fingertip sensors
6.) Proprioception - must have joint position measurement sensors. Joint effort (torque) sensory information is a plus.
7.) PC based controller
8.) Software: Application level API for use with std. programming language (e.g., C++)

Period of performance

The period of performance for this requirement will be, 30 days from actual receipt of and acceptance of the robotic hand.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, foreign, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. Please include your company's size classification and socio-economic status in any response to this notice.

Companies that can fulfill this requirement for an Anthropomorphic Robotic Hand are requested to email a detailed response describing their abilities, and addressing the requirements set forth herein, to [email protected] no later than the response date for this sources sought notice. The response should include achievable specifications and any other information relevant to your product or capabilities. Also, the following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice: 1. Name of the company that manufactures the system for which specifications are provided. 2. Name of company(ies) that are authorized to sell the system, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address). 3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of such a system. 4. Indication of whether each instrument for which specifications are sent to [email protected] are currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s). 5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.

Point of Contact

Judith Hicklin, Contracting Specialist, Phone (301) 975-8838, Fax (301) 975-8753, Email [email protected].