Cryogenic Current Comparator System

Background: NIST requires a Cryogenic Current Comparator System that consists of one (1) CCC system, comprising of a quantity of one (1) Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) control system, a quantity of one (1) Cryogenic Current Comparator Probe, a quantity of one (1) Cryogenic Current Comparator Drive Electronics and a quantity of three (3) LHe Vessel for Cryogenic Current Comparator Probe. NIST is seeking sources that can provide all four (4) components, manufactured by a single manufacturer.

Components manufactured by different manufacturers and pieced together to complete the system is not acceptable. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Quantum Measurement (QMD) is building a robust open-source hardware and software Quantum Electro-Mechanical Metrology Suite (QEMMS) that provides quantum voltage, resistance, current, mass, and force dissemination directly traceable to the new SI.

The goal is to develop a self-calibrating SI system that is turn-key and fit-for-purpose for primary standard laboratories and other national metrology institutes.

NIST has developed a Graphene quantum Hall array resistance standard (QHARS) of about 1 k? which can operate up to 1 mA while maintaining accuracies at parts in 109. With the redefinition of the kilogram allowing primary mass realizations at values other than 1 kg, it is now possible to combine a 1 V Programmable Josephson Voltage System (PJVS) and a 1 k?

QHARS to provide a quantum realization of the current that can be directly connected to a scaled down Kibble balance operating at 100 g. NIST research activities (resistance scaling from graphene QHR, and characterization of graphene QHARS), requires the purchase of a cryogenic current comparator (CCC) system. This notice is not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) via FAR 13.501. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. In order to meet the project requirements the following requirements must be met:

1. the different components of the CCC systems: CCC probe, SQUID control system, and CCC drive electronics must be compatible with Magnicon CCC System Hardware and Software currently in use at NIST, and can be inter-swapped.

2. Must be a wet cryogenic system. System must have no re-condensing liquid helium system that uses a pulsed tube cryocooler.

3. Continuous, overlapping ranges of resistance calibration when used with a CCC probe having binary-scale build-up that will allow a resistor of any value between 0.1 Ohm and 1 MOhm to be calibrated directly against a resistor of one or more decade-value levels. NIST conducted market research from March 2024 to July 2024 by internet searches, GSA Advantage searches, review of physics journals, review of relevant physics papers, company website searches, discussions with sources, and sources sought posting. The results of that market research revealed that only Magnicon GmbH; Lemsahler Landstr. 171, 22397 Hamburg, Germany;

UEI: CUMTMWLD7HS3 appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements. However, any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier number in https://sam.gov; details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements; whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied.