NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Plasma Diagnostic Suite

The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with IMPEDANS LIMITED (UEI: W7NGBFYLD5K9), Chase HOUSE, City Junction Business PARK, Northern Cross, Dublin, D17 AK63, Ireland, for the purchase of a Plasma Detection Suite. The statutory authority for this acquisition is 41 USC 3304(a)(1); FAR 13.106-1(b).

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Nanocalorimetry for Semiconductors and Semiconductor Process Metrology project requires a plasma diagnostic suite (PDS) which will be used as a benchmark for testing the NIST Nanocalorimetry platform for plasma semiconductor process metrology under the CHIPS act.

The plasma diagnostic suit will include a Langmuir probe for general bulk plasma characterization, Retarding field ion energy analyzer, Quartz microbalance sensor for plasma deposition monitoring (if any) and reactive radicals flux monitoring. The PDS will be used inside the same test plasma reactor chamber where Nanocalorimetry plasma sensors (NPS) will be tested to evaluate the performance of NPS against the state-of-the-art PDS.

Extensive market research has been completed from August 2023 to June 2024, including internet searches, discussions with colleagues, and attendance at conferences. IMPEDANS LIMITED is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the equipment that meets the required minimum specifications. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

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 be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement.

Interested parties that believe they can satisfy the requirements listed above must identify their capability in writing before the response date of this notice. Only responses received by the established date and time shall be considered by the government.