NOTICE OF INTENT-Mechanical Cryocooler Systems

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Sumitomo (SHI) Cryogenics of America, Inc., located in Allentown, PA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for three (3) mechanical cryocooler systems. Specific Requirements are as follows:

3 Mechanical Cryocooler Systems- Each including compressor, hoses, and coldhead, for cooling electronics and optics to 2.3K. The systems will be installed into existing cryostats that are designed to accommodate a Sumitomo RDK-101DL cryocooler or equivalent in dimensions and all other specifications.

Each crycooler must be capable of achieving a base temperature of 2.3K or colder, with a cooling power of 0.1W or greater at 4.2K NAICS Code is 334516 –Analytical Laboratory Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Sumitomo (SHI) Cryogenics of America, Inc. for this requirement.

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 by 4/21/2024.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to angela.hitt@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein for this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: Sumitomo (SHI) Cryogenics of America, Inc. is the original manufacturer of NIST’s three (3) cryostats that need cryocoolers. Each mechanical cryocooler system requires compressor, hoses, and coldhead, for cooling electronics and optics to 2.3K. The systems will be installed into existing cryostats that are designed to accommodate a Sumitomo RDK-101DL cryocooler. Each crycooler must be capable of achieving a base temperature of 2.3K or colder, with a cooling power of 0.1W or greater at 4.2K Failure to process this request would cause NIST more lost time in experiments using cryostats which have a negative impact on other experiments.