{"canonical":"https://abierto.us/opportunities/nb6870002602180","key":"NB6870002602180","url":"https://abierto.us/opportunities/nb6870002602180","title":"Notice of Intent to Sole Source Wirebond Pull Tester","solicitation_number":"NB687000-26-02180","notice_type":"s","open":false,"response_deadline":"2026-07-09T17:00:00Z","first_posted":"2026-07-01","last_posted":"2026-07-27","department":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF","subagency":"NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY","office":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF","naics":"334515","psc":"6640","set_aside":null,"place_state":"CO","winner":"K&R NEXT GENERATION BONDING INC.","award_amount":null,"publications":[{"notice_id":"ef4e0a22687e4614b1937592019e19dd","title":"Sources Sought Wirebond Pull Tester","solicitation_number":"NB687000-26-02180","notice_type":"r","base_type":"r","posted":"2026-07-01","posted_at":null,"due_at":"2026-07-09T17:00:00Z","due_date":"2026-07-09","cancelled":null,"archived":null,"archive_date":"2026-07-24","award_number":null,"awardee_name":null,"amount":null,"link_sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ef4e0a22687e4614b1937592019e19dd/view","enriched":false,"history":[]},{"notice_id":"ff5cba180eee4383ab6ebd0b8f16bbc4","title":"Notice of Intent to Sole Source Wirebond Pull Tester","solicitation_number":"NB687000-26-02180","notice_type":"s","base_type":"s","posted":"2026-07-27","posted_at":null,"due_at":"2026-08-06T17:00:00Z","due_date":"2026-08-06","cancelled":null,"archived":null,"archive_date":"2026-08-21","award_number":null,"awardee_name":null,"amount":null,"link_sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ff5cba180eee4383ab6ebd0b8f16bbc4/view","enriched":false,"history":[]}],"latest_notice_id":"ff5cba180eee4383ab6ebd0b8f16bbc4","first_type":"r","notices":[{"dates":{"posted":"2026-07-01","response_deadline":{"raw":"2026-07-09T11:00:00-06:00","utc":"2026-07-09T17:00:00Z","date":"2026-07-09","time":"11:00:00","utc_offset_seconds":-21600}},"links":{"sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ef4e0a22687e4614b1937592019e19dd/view"},"naics":{"codes":["334515"],"primary":"334515"},"title":"Sources Sought Wirebond Pull Tester","agency":{"office":{"code":"1333ND","name":"DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST"},"subtier":{"code":"1341","name":"NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY"},"department":{"code":"013","name":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF"},"office_address":{"zip":"20899","city":"GAITHERSBURG","state":"MD","country":"USA"},"organization_type":"OFFICE"},"status":{"active":false,"archive_date":"2026-07-24","archive_type":"auto15"},"contacts":[{"name":"Lisa Stevens","role":"primary","email":"lisa.stevens@nist.gov","phone":"2524222097"}],"base_type":{"code":"r","label":"Sources Sought"},"notice_id":"ef4e0a22687e4614b1937592019e19dd","provenance":{"extract":{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/falextracts/Contract%20Opportunities/Archived%20Data/FY2026_archived_opportunities.csv","etag":"\"d9374b90a938e9923d910594731b7b57-106\"","fetched_at":"2026-09-16T00:55:27.040971Z","row_sha256":"45e6a24a14b4fa2fee65c8ca84daeab777d33c2011c3d448c51f5db579fd19a9","last_modified":"2026-09-13T14:50:39Z"},"updated_at":"2026-09-16T01:23:19.522364Z","first_seen_at":"2026-09-16T00:55:27.040971Z"},"description":{"text":"National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division Sources Sought for Commercial Product Purchase THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that can provide the product described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition. The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide Wirebond Pull Tester per the specifications attached herein. This announcement is not a Request for Proposals or Quotes (RFP/RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The information contained in this notice is DRAFT only and, as such, is subject to change prior to the issuance of a solicitation. No solicitation is available currently. Additionally, the Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this Sources Sought announcement. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-aside categories will be considered. In addition, this market research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, who manufacture the Wirebond Pull Tester in the U.S. prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. PLEASE INDICATE WHAT COUNTRY MANUFACTURES THIS PRODUCT. After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive or non-competitive procurement on the System for Award Management (sam.gov) and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage that can fulfill the requirement, in accordance with the Specifications, then this acquisition shall be solicited as a small business set aside, however, NIST is seeking responses from ALL responsible sources, including large and small businesses. Responses should include the country where the product is manufactured. This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334515, Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a small business size standard of 750 employees. Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirements should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to four (4) pages or less. Responses should include the following information: Name of the company that will provide the product(s). Name of the company that will manufacture the product. County of origin or manufacture of the product. Spec/data sheets and examples of products that meet the specifications that demonstrate experience in meeting the requirements of this procurement. Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of order Any other relevant information that is not listed above that the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research. (Company sales brochures or marketing packages will not be considered.) Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contract Specialist, Lisa Stevens, via email at lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time posted in this notice. No quotes will be accepted at this time and will not be considered. REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW: See the attached Statement of Requirements document","origin":"extract"},"notice_type":{"code":"r","label":"Sources Sought"},"schema_version":1,"solicitation_number":"NB687000-26-02180","place_of_performance":{"zip":"80305","city":{"name":"Boulder"},"state":{"code":"CO"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"product_service_code":"6640"},{"dates":{"posted":"2026-07-27","response_deadline":{"raw":"2026-08-06T11:00:00-06:00","utc":"2026-08-06T17:00:00Z","date":"2026-08-06","time":"11:00:00","utc_offset_seconds":-21600}},"links":{"sam":"https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ff5cba180eee4383ab6ebd0b8f16bbc4/view"},"naics":{"codes":["334515"],"primary":"334515"},"title":"Notice of Intent to Sole Source Wirebond Pull Tester","agency":{"office":{"name":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF"},"subtier":{"code":"1300"},"department":{"code":"013","name":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF"},"office_address":{"country":"US"},"organization_type":"DEPARTMENT"},"status":{"active":false,"archive_date":"2026-08-21","archive_type":"auto15"},"contacts":[{"name":"Lisa Stevens","role":"primary","email":"lisa.stevens@nist.gov","phone":"2524222097"}],"base_type":{"code":"s","label":"Special Notice"},"notice_id":"ff5cba180eee4383ab6ebd0b8f16bbc4","provenance":{"extract":{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/falextracts/Contract%20Opportunities/Archived%20Data/FY2026_archived_opportunities.csv","etag":"\"d9374b90a938e9923d910594731b7b57-106\"","fetched_at":"2026-09-16T00:55:27.040971Z","row_sha256":"2137e0e0d0b9ab1aac12f6c407684799447385844842819fd3f139b366db9d64","last_modified":"2026-09-13T14:50:39Z"},"updated_at":"2026-09-16T01:23:21.771325Z","first_seen_at":"2026-09-16T00:55:27.040971Z"},"description":{"text":"The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with K&R Next Generation Bonding Inc., located in Santa Ana, CA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 6.302-1, soliciting from a single source, for a Wirebond Pull Tester. Specific Requirements are as follows: The unit shall be a new West Bond 70PTE Wire Pull Tester, “E” Series, with A-1 Tweezer Feature, with the following specifications: binocular microscope with 10x eyepieces. LED Illuminator: Twin Array. z Tool Range: at least 9/16”. z Encoder Resolution: 0.002”. Test Force Range: 100 g minimum. Test Range: at least 1/8” depth with 360? rotation. Force Resolution: 0.1 g or better. Force Accuracy: +/– 0.2 g or better. ESD Protection: yes. (x, y, z) micromanipulator of pull hook and swap-in tweezer attachment: single-lever, dual-counter counterbalanced with 8:1 motion-reduction ratio. The contractor shall supply a one-year warranty on all parts. NAICS Code is 334515 –Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a Size Standard of 750 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to K&R Next Generation Bonding 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 August 28, 2026. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION: The NIST Quantum Sensors Division (QSD) is contracted by NASA to provide flight hardware for the Athena X-ray-astronomy satellite mission. As part of this work, the QSD team will be wirebonding to flight parts. The team needs to be able to measure the pull strength of the wirebonds. The team also needs to be able to remove wirebonds in a highly controlled way. This purchase is for a dual-use benchtop unit: a manual wirebond-pull tester that also has a swap-in tweezer attachment to remove wirebonds. The new unit will be sited in the QSD's new “flight lab” that is being commissioned to handle, test, and store Athena flight parts. To support its general mission to assemble and test detector and readout hardware, the QSD already operates and maintains a fleet of wirebonders (to apply wirebonds) and diebonders with tweezers (to remove wirebonds) that were all made by the same manufacturer, West Bond. Wirebond-pull testers share many operating features with wirebonders and diebonders and are built from many of the same types of mechanical, optical, and electronic components. Thus, to maintain intercompatibility with its existing stock of spare West Bond parts and to avoid the need to re-train its large user base that already knows how to operate, trouble-shoot, and repair West Bond wirebonders and diebonders, the QSD is requesting to purchase a specific West Bond model (the 70PTE Wire Pull Tester, “E” Series, with A-1 Tweezer Feature) from a specific company (K&R Next Generation Bonding, Inc.). The QSD presently operates and maintains 6 West Bond wirebonders and diebonders. All of these units use the same optic (binocular microscope with 10x eyepieces) that are also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. All but one use the same (x, y, z) single-lever, dual-counterbalanced micromanipulator with 8:1 motion-reduction ratio that is also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. All but one use the same mechanical stage and the same control electronics that are also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. Two use the same tweezers and actuator that are also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. The QSD keeps an inventory of spare parts and has super-users for each machine that have been trained by West Bond technicians to repair them. A sole-source purchase of the specified West Bond 70PTE-A-1 wirebond-pull tester with tweezers guarantees intercompatibility with QSD’s spare parts and the ability of QSD’s already-trained super-users to service and repair the new machine. The present QSD user base for the existing West Bond machines is about 35 people. The user base for the new wirebond-pull tester is expected to be about 6 to 8 people, all of whom are present users of QSD’s other West Bond machines. A sole-source purchase of the specified West Bond 70PTE-A-1 guarantees interoperability by the existing QSD user base without the need for re-training. West Bond, Inc. went out of business at the end of 2025. The remaining stock of new West Bond wirebonders, diebonders, and wire-pull testers was transferred to a new company, K&R Next Generation Bonding, Inc. This company is the only authorized seller of new (manufacturer original) West Bond machines. Thus, QSD is requesting to purchase the 70PTE-A-1 (the only wire-pull tester with tweezer attachment that fulfills QSD’s technical needs) from K&R Next Generation Bonding, Inc. (the only company authorized to sell it).","origin":"extract"},"notice_type":{"code":"s","label":"Special Notice"},"schema_version":1,"solicitation_number":"NB687000-26-02180","place_of_performance":{"zip":"80305","city":{"name":"Boulder"},"state":{"code":"CO"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"product_service_code":"6640"}],"due_at":"2026-07-09T17:00:00Z","due_date":"2026-07-09","closes_at":"2026-07-09T17:00:00Z","awardable":false,"dept_key":"d-013","dept_name":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF","sub_key":"s-1300","sub_name":"NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY","office_key":"o-n-COMMERCEDEPARTMENTOF","office_name":"COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF","state":"CO","country":"USA","winner_key":"N46URN5P2V54","amount":null,"linked_awards":2,"cancelled":false,"archived":false,"updated_at":"2026-09-16T07:35:04.262118Z","principal_notice_id":"ff5cba180eee4383ab6ebd0b8f16bbc4","description":{"text":"The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with K&R Next Generation Bonding Inc., located in Santa Ana, CA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 6.302-1, soliciting from a single source, for a Wirebond Pull Tester. Specific Requirements are as follows: The unit shall be a new West Bond 70PTE Wire Pull Tester, “E” Series, with A-1 Tweezer Feature, with the following specifications: binocular microscope with 10x eyepieces. LED Illuminator: Twin Array. z Tool Range: at least 9/16”. z Encoder Resolution: 0.002”. Test Force Range: 100 g minimum. Test Range: at least 1/8” depth with 360? rotation. Force Resolution: 0.1 g or better. Force Accuracy: +/– 0.2 g or better. ESD Protection: yes. (x, y, z) micromanipulator of pull hook and swap-in tweezer attachment: single-lever, dual-counter counterbalanced with 8:1 motion-reduction ratio. The contractor shall supply a one-year warranty on all parts. NAICS Code is 334515 –Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a Size Standard of 750 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to K&R Next Generation Bonding 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 August 28, 2026. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lisa.stevens@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lisa.stevens@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION: The NIST Quantum Sensors Division (QSD) is contracted by NASA to provide flight hardware for the Athena X-ray-astronomy satellite mission. As part of this work, the QSD team will be wirebonding to flight parts. The team needs to be able to measure the pull strength of the wirebonds. The team also needs to be able to remove wirebonds in a highly controlled way. This purchase is for a dual-use benchtop unit: a manual wirebond-pull tester that also has a swap-in tweezer attachment to remove wirebonds. The new unit will be sited in the QSD's new “flight lab” that is being commissioned to handle, test, and store Athena flight parts. To support its general mission to assemble and test detector and readout hardware, the QSD already operates and maintains a fleet of wirebonders (to apply wirebonds) and diebonders with tweezers (to remove wirebonds) that were all made by the same manufacturer, West Bond. Wirebond-pull testers share many operating features with wirebonders and diebonders and are built from many of the same types of mechanical, optical, and electronic components. Thus, to maintain intercompatibility with its existing stock of spare West Bond parts and to avoid the need to re-train its large user base that already knows how to operate, trouble-shoot, and repair West Bond wirebonders and diebonders, the QSD is requesting to purchase a specific West Bond model (the 70PTE Wire Pull Tester, “E” Series, with A-1 Tweezer Feature) from a specific company (K&R Next Generation Bonding, Inc.). The QSD presently operates and maintains 6 West Bond wirebonders and diebonders. All of these units use the same optic (binocular microscope with 10x eyepieces) that are also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. All but one use the same (x, y, z) single-lever, dual-counterbalanced micromanipulator with 8:1 motion-reduction ratio that is also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. All but one use the same mechanical stage and the same control electronics that are also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. Two use the same tweezers and actuator that are also present in the new wirebond-pull tester. The QSD keeps an inventory of spare parts and has super-users for each machine that have been trained by West Bond technicians to repair them. A sole-source purchase of the specified West Bond 70PTE-A-1 wirebond-pull tester with tweezers guarantees intercompatibility with QSD’s spare parts and the ability of QSD’s already-trained super-users to service and repair the new machine. The present QSD user base for the existing West Bond machines is about 35 people. The user base for the new wirebond-pull tester is expected to be about 6 to 8 people, all of whom are present users of QSD’s other West Bond machines. A sole-source purchase of the specified West Bond 70PTE-A-1 guarantees interoperability by the existing QSD user base without the need for re-training. West Bond, Inc. went out of business at the end of 2025. The remaining stock of new West Bond wirebonders, diebonders, and wire-pull testers was transferred to a new company, K&R Next Generation Bonding, Inc. This company is the only authorized seller of new (manufacturer original) West Bond machines. Thus, QSD is requesting to purchase the 70PTE-A-1 (the only wire-pull tester with tweezer attachment that fulfills QSD’s technical needs) from K&R Next Generation Bonding, Inc. (the only company authorized to sell it).","html":null,"origin":"extract"},"contacts":[{"name":"Lisa Stevens","role":"primary","email":"lisa.stevens@nist.gov","phone":"2524222097"}],"place_of_performance":{"zip":"80305","city":{"name":"Boulder"},"state":{"code":"CO"},"country":{"code":"USA"}},"office_address":{"country":"US"},"naics_codes":["334515"],"award":null,"attachments":[],"awards":[{"award_key":"CONT_AWD_1333ND26PNB680340_1341_-NONE-_-NONE-","permalink":"https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_1333ND26PNB680340_1341_-NONE-_-NONE-/","piid":"1333ND26PNB680340","parent_piid":null,"award_type":"PURCHASE ORDER","vendor_key":"N46URN5P2V54","recipient_name":"K&R NEXT GENERATION BONDING INC.","recipient_uei":"N46URN5P2V54","recipient_cage":"23BM7","recipient_city":"SANTA ANA","recipient_state":"CA","sub_name":"National Institute of Standards and Technology","office_name":"DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST","office_key":"o-1333ND","first_action_date":"2026-08-19","last_action_date":"2026-08-19","actions":1,"obligated":"26875.00","current_total_value":"26875.00","potential_total_value":"26875.00","naics":"333242","psc":"6640","extent_competed":"COMPETED UNDER SAP","set_aside":"NO SET ASIDE USED.","offers_received":1,"description":"OU68-FY26-450-NEW WIREBOND PULL TESTER","method":"solicitation","confidence":"high","evidence":["solicitation number NB6870002602180 equals the FPDS solicitation identifier","same awarding office 1333ND"],"opportunity_key":null,"opportunity_title":null}],"related":[]}