ACTION CODE: <PRESOL>

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 - Services

SUBJECT: Precise Determination of the Mass of a Test Object

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB684050-12-02018

RESPONSE DATE: April 23, 2012

CONTACT POINTS: Chris Ganey, Contract Specialist, 301-975-6205
Todd Hill, Contracting Officer, 301-975-8802

DESCRIPTION:

The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) for the purchase of services under other than full and open competition by the authority of FAR subpart 13.106(b)(1): Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The requirement is based on NIST's need for:

The National Institute of standards is working to fix the value of the Planck constant using an experiment known as a watt balance. This experiment requires the use of a test object known as K85, the precise mass of which must be determined with respect to the international standard kilogram with the highest level of certainty possible, or the experiment will not succeed. Because mass, by international definition, is measured by comparison to an artifact located at the BIPM in Paris, the only way to obtain the most precise determination of the mass of a test object is to ship the item to Paris and have the BIPM perform this determination. This is the only way that NIST can obtain a calibration of mass that is better than its own. Furthermore, because the NIST watt balance experiment operates in a vacuum, it is necessary to determine the mass of this test object in a similar vacuum condition. This determination requires a vacuum to air characterization and additional calibrations of the volume of various test objects that can, again, only be determined at the BIPM with the level of accuracy required for the experiment to succeed. Therefore, because the necessary services for the determination of these volumes and masses are only available at the BIPM, NIST intends to negotiate with the BIPM on a sole source basis for the following:

1) Volume determination of the stack of disks C18 by hydrostatic weighing method.
2) Air-vacuum characterization of the stack of disks C18 by gravimetry method (air-vacuum-air-vacuum-air sequence). Air (at atmospheric pressure around 50% of relative humidity) and vacuum around 2 mPa.
3) Air-vacuum characterization of the prototype K85 by gravimetry method (air-vacuum-air-vacuum-air sequence). Air (at atmospheric pressure around 50% of relative humidity) and vacuum around 2 mPa.

BIPM is the only source that offers precise determination of the mass of a test object system that meets all of NIST's requirements.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541712, and the size standard is 500 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 12:00 p.m. (Eastern) on April 23, 2012. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected].

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 in the future.