Notice of Intent to Sole Source: High Temperature - Gel Permeation Chromatography

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with the Polymer Characterization SA (Polymer Char), Calle Gustave Eiffel (Valencia Technology Park), 8 Paterna, 46980 ESP. The sole source justification is based on the following:

The Material Measurement Laboratory’s Materials Science & Engineering Division (MSED) conducts research on the development of polyolefin Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), which requires measurement of the polymers’ molar mass, molar mass distribution, and branching content. To achieve this, in 2012, the government purchased a high-temperature size-exclusion chromatography instrument from Polymer Char, model GPC-IR.

As NIST needs to maintain state-of-the-art capabilities for standards certifications, texting, and polymer separations research, we seek to replace our current GPC-IR with a new high-temperature gel permeation chromatography (HT-GPC) flow through infrared detector with differential viscometry detection to 1) improve the detection capability of low levels of short chain branching, along with 2) replacing legacy equipment, where parts and service will soon become unavailable from the vendor due to the age of the instrument (12+ years).

The new instrument must be compatible with an external high-temperature light scattering detector currently coupled to the legacy instrument, which is required for absolute weight average molar mass measurements and determination of polymer conformation plots. Additionally, sample preparation requirements for our GPC-IR system now include analysis of commercial and recycled polyolefins, which contain fillers, colorants, and other contaminants that can damage GPC-IR system components.

The ability to dissolve samples at high temperatures, use a hot filter to remove high concentrations of pollutants, and safely handle solvents is not a current capability on our legacy GPC-IR instrument, but the development of commercial sample preparation systems from instrument vendors have recently made filtration and safe solvent handling possible with a sample preparation accessory for the new HT-GPC. This requirement is for the delivery of one HT-GPC system.

Delivery, installation, training, and warranty shall also be included. Polymer Char is the only vendor identified through extensive market research that offers a system that meets NIST specifications. The HT-GPC system manufactured by Polymer Char can independently determine short-chain branching content (in CH3/1000 total carbons) and differentiate contributions to dilute solution behavior of long and short-chain branching.

The new IR 6 detector is capable of 10x greater sensitivity than the IR 4 currently in use at NIST. Additionally, they can ensure compatibility with our legacy light scattering detector, including hardware and software, voltage signals, and data processing. The new HT-GPC must also be compatible with the existing databases in MSED as it would cost hundreds of man-hours to replicate existing databases to be compatible with a different system.

As such, Polymer Char is the only company that makes an HT-GPC that can meet the Government's requirement and ensure compatibility with our existing accessories. Polymer Char is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the required HT-GPC. Given these facts, Polymer Char is the only source reasonably available to fulfill this requirement. The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order.

The NAICS Code is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a size standard of 1,000 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 10:00 am EST on August 28, 2024, will be considered by the Government.

Responses must be submitted via email to the Government point of contacts listed below. 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.