This is a Sources Sought Notification.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is attempting to locate sources who fabricate metal that will be used as a Standard Reference Material as defined below.
This is not a request for proposals. Information received will be used for market research purposes only.
Vendors shall identify their business size in accordance with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 333249 -Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing; the Small Business Size Standard is 500 employees.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Materials, Standards, and Data for Energy Conversion Materials Project in the Materials Measurement Science Division is active in identifying and developing measurement methodologies, standard reference materials (SRMs), comprehensive data sets, and phase equilibrium data for bulk and thin film materials used for energy conversion applications. Energy conversion materials are comprised by thermoelectrics, photovoltaics and batteries, for example. The Seebeck coefficient, the proportionality constant that quantifies the thermoelectric conversion of an applied temperature difference into an electric potential, is an essential indicator of conversion efficiency and the most widely measured property specific to thermoelectric materials. Materials that exhibit a large Seebeck coefficient, in addition to high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity, are considered candidates for use in thermoelectric applications. These applications include waste heat recovery in engines for automotive, aerospace, and military applications, and solid-state refrigeration for consumer products and microelectronics. The use of reliable Seebeck Coefficient Standard Reference Materials® (SRMs) will allow the accurate inter-laboratory comparison and validation of materials data, thereby accelerating the development and commercialization of new and efficient thermoelectric materials and devices.

The material requirements for the high temperature Seebeck coefficient SRM include: long term chemical and transport property stability at high temperature after repeated thermal cycles over a broad temperature range; homogeneity in batch production; reasonable production availability and development, production, and materials costs; moderately large absolute Seebeck coefficient values (40 μV/K to 200 μV/K), moderate to low thermal conductivity (for thermal gradient formation power requirements), and moderate to high electrical conductivity, over a meaningfully broad portion of the high temperature regime; the ability to be shaped into the specified geometry; and proven commercial history without serious long term instability under ambient conditions, with minimal environmental concerns (should be environmentally friendly and non-toxic). Based on thermo-cycling tests, it has been determined that p-type polycrystalline Si80Ge20 is an effective material for SRM. In addition, this material is well researched and studied, and has long term evidenced use as the principal material in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for powering deep space exploration probes. This material is not available commercially and must be custom produced by a vendor with experience in thermoelectric material synthesis.

Submissions must be received no later than 12:00pm EST Friday, July 25th 2014.
Submissions must include;
1) Capability and fabrication statement about their abilities.
2) Dimensions of sustainability when used in applications such as guided missile and deep space propulsion systems.

USPS mail and email submissions are acceptable.

Bid Protests Not Available