The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide Cryogenic Positioners. The Spin Electronics Group within the Quantum Electromagnetics requires an additional variable temperature probe station to characterize next generation superconducting circuits and memory elements. The stick-slip positioners are a necessary component in the new variable temperature probe station.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

A commercially available stick slip piezo positioning system with 3 axis (x, y, z) which have a range of at least 15mm in the x and y directions and at least 10mm in the z-direction. The positioners must operate from 300K to below 3K. Additionally the z-stage must have a closed-loop position encoder.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

1. The positioner shall operate from room temperature down to below 3K.

2. The positioner shall have a translation range of at least 15mm in the x and y axes.

3. The positioner shall have a translation range of at least 10mm in the z direction

4. The x and y stages shall have a footprint less than 55mm x 55mm and the height shall be less than 15mm for each stage.

5. The z-stage shall have a position encoder to allow for closed loop control of the axis.

6. It must be possible to combine the 3 stages in to a single 3-axis positioning system

7. Control electronics shall be included for the respective positioners where NIST does not already have existing control electronics.

8. The positioners must be constructed entirely from non-magnetic materials.

9. The positioners must be high vacuum (< 1E-7 Torr) compatible.

This announcement is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available at this time. The purpose of this synopsis is to identify organizations with the requisite qualifications to meet the requirements of the item stated herein. After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed and compared with NIST's minimum (see Specifications above), NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then this acquisition may be solicited as a small business set aside. NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses (SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB and VOSB). This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334513 Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables. The specific purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is to determine if there are small businesses, within the parameters identified above, that can provide the item identified.

Interested business organizations that believe they are capable of meeting the requirement should submit electronic copies or mailed copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to five (5) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:

1. Name of company that will provide this item.
2. Verification of your ability to provide this item.
3. Typical delivery date after receipt of order.
4. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.
5. General overview of the item you provide.
6. Must be Registered in SAM (www.sam.gov). Provide Cage Code and DUNS

Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contract Specialist no later than 3 p.m. MST Friday, June 16, 2017. The capability statement shall identify the business status of the organization.

Only electronic or mailed statements will be accepted. Faxes will not be accepted. Send to Michael G. Fredericks, Contracting Officer, at [email protected]. Direct all questions to this e-mail address.