Dilution Refrigerator Vacuum Can Extensions

NOTICE OF INTENT: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Bluefors, Inc., located in Brooklyn, New York, on a sole-source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for dilution refrigerator vacuum can extensions for an existing dilution refrigerator. Specific Requirements are as follows:

Item 1: Still Shield, Quantity: 1 EACH, specifications -- 1.1 Extended lengths, gold plated, still shield that results in 150mm vertical experimental space around the mixing chamber.

Item 2: 4 K Shield, Quantity: 1 EACH, specifications -- 2.1 Extended length, 4 K shield that results in 150mm vertical experimental space around the mixing chamber.

Item 3: 50 K Shield, Quantity: 1 EACH, specifications -- 3.1 Extended length, 50 K shield that results in 150mm vertical experimental space around the mixing chamber.

Item 4: Lower Vacuum Can, Quantity: 1 EACH, specifications -- 3.1 Extended length, lower vacuum can that results in 150mm vertical experimental space around the mixing chamber. This shall be provided and accomplished in accordance with these specifications. The NAICS Code is 334516—Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.

For this requirement, NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Bluefors, Inc. Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued 4th Quarter of FY24. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lia.arthofer@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lia.arthofer@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein in this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: Market research resulted in Bluefors, Inc. Being the only vendor to provide a commercial dilution refrigerator vacuum can extension for the already existing dilution refrigerator consistent with the technical specification requirements provided herein. These parts must be compatible with the existing dilution refrigerator, we are expanding this space with an extended vacuum can and radiation shields.

If different extended vacuum cans and radiation shields that does not meet these specifications would cause the entire system to be less accurate than what is required to proceed with the project, and NIST would have to attempt to develop and have built another dilution refrigerator system that would cause unreasonable costs, delays and lead to the project potentially failing or being canceled.