The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Oxford Instruments America, Inc, for the repair of Repair of NIST’s Oxford Teslatron Cryostat. NIST cites FAR 6.302-1(a)(ii)(A) (see excerpt below) as primary rationale for Sole Source Determination. (ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in – (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Sole Source determination is based on the following: The Quantum Electrical Metrology Division at NIST uses an Oxford Teslatron Cryostat for low-temperature quantum Hall measurements. An assessment of the instrument’s magnet has found a resistive section at the point of the joint in the second section of windings in the Niobium Tin coil. Oxford Instruments is the original equipment manufacturer and has proprietary drawings of the cryostat. Therefore, Oxford Instruments is the only known vendor capable of providing the repair services without incurring damages to the magnet. Oxford Instrument, Inc., is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the instrument that is required to satisfy the Government’s minimum requirements. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811219, and the size standard is $6,500,000. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, the Government will consider responses received by March 30, 2009, 3:30 p.m. EST. 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.

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