The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded a purchase order to Four Nine Design LLC for $244,900 on September 22, 2026, for a closed-cycle cryostat system.
The cryostat will support the Physical Measurements Lab's characterization of superconducting devices and digital logic circuit testing. The system must achieve base temperatures below 3 Kelvin using a closed-cycle design with no liquid cryogens, feature an upright sample space with minimum 250 millimeter diameter and 225 millimeter height to the radiation shield, deliver cooling power exceeding 1.5 watts at 4.5 Kelvin, and maintain temperature variations under 50 millikelvin peak-to-peak. Cool-down and warm-up cycles must complete within 2 hours each. All materials in the sample space must be non-magnetic. The system includes a liquid helium pot, water-cooled compressor, 96 DC electrical lines with DB25 connectors, and 24 low-resistance copper electrical lines; an optional 1 Tesla split-coil magnet is separately priced.
Place of performance is Billings, Montana. The ultimate completion date is May 8, 2027. The order originated from a sources-sought notice posted June 12, 2026.