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, under authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), with Physik Instrumente of Auburn, Massachusetts for the purchase of a XY Piezo Nanopositioning Stage and Amplifier/Module.

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: NIST Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory requests an XY Piezo Nanopositioning Stage and Amplifier/Module to operate in accordance with the original equipment specifications from the manufacturer. The XY Piezo Nanopositioning Stage and Amplifier/Module by Physik Instrumente is the only commercially available hardware to ensure compatibility with the existing system. There are other control electronic modules that may be used for nanopositioning stages, but significant effort and changes would need to be done in house to accommodate such systems. Using the commercially available system with its own hardware would save the Government significant time and money eliminating the need to purchase and incorporate new hardware into the existing system. As a result, Physik Instrumente is uniquely qualified to satisfy the Government's minimum requirements.

Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334519, 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 3:00 p.m. (EST) on July 09, 2009. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected]. No telephone requests will be honored.

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.