B2 - RFQ NB670000-20-01573.docx

DESCRIPTION:

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVLAUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A SEPARATE WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THE SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC-89)

1352.215-72 INQUIRIES (APR 2010)

Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing to the contract specialist within three (3) days of the posting. All responses to the questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract.

(end of provision)

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1000 employees. This requirement is being competed as full and open competition. All interested responsible business concerns, regardless of size, may submit a quotation.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a requirement for the purchase of a Dilution Refrigerator Helium Battery System for Quantum Networking.

Attached are the Specifications for solicitation NB670000-20-01573. Please submit a quote for the required Dilution Refrigerator Helium Battery System for Quantum Networking that meet the requirements.

This RFQ is conducted under the authority of FAR 13 Simplified Acquisitions with NAICS code 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, having a Small Business Size Standard of 1000 employees.

All communications and documents must include the solicitation # NB670000-20-01573. Please email your quote to me at aron.krischel@nist.gov no later than June 15, 2020, 10:00 AM Mountain. Please direct any questions regarding this solicitation to Aron Krischel, Contracting Officer, at aron.krischel@nist.gov no later than Jun 1, 2020. Your quote must meet all requirements of FAR 52.212-1, as well as include the following information:

· Information sufficient to demonstrate you can meet or exceed the requirements in the Specifications.

· Firm fixed price quote for one Dilution Refrigerator Helium Battery System for Quantum Networking.

· Payment Terms: Net 30.

· The requested delivery is within 8 months after receipt of the order (ARO). FOB Destination for delivery to NIST, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305. Delivery point of contact will be provided upon award.

· Company DUNS No. To be eligible for this award, the quoter must be registered with the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov., and have completed the Representations and Certifications therein for the specified NAICS code, or submit separate Representations and Certifications if the specified NAICS code is not listed in their SAM registration.

The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial, applies to this acquisition. Quoter shall clearly demonstrate their ability to meet the technical requirements and deliverable schedule as outlined in this solicitation. Quote shall include shipping costs. NIST reserves the right to ship under NIST provided account.

BASIS OF AWARD:

Award shall be made to the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) quote, based upon the technical specifications as detailed within the attached Specifications. This will be a firm fixed price purchase order.

The Government intends to evaluate quotations and issue a purchase order based on the initial quotations received. Therefore, the quoter’s initial quotation should contain the quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to request revised quotations from, or negotiate final purchase order terms with, one or more, but not all, quoters if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. However, the Contracting Officer will not establish a competitive range, conduct discussions, or otherwise use the procedures described at FAR 15.306. The Government may reject any or all quotations if such action is in the public interest; and issue a purchase order to other than the quoter with the lowest priced quotation.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY:

Evaluation of Technical Capability will be based on the information provided in the quotation. Documentation submitted in the quotation shall be evaluated to determine that the proposed equipment meets or exceeds the Governments minimum required specifications. Failure to clearly and unambiguously demonstrate this will result in an “unacceptable“ technical rating.

PRICE:

Price shall be evaluated for reasonableness.

FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The Government will award a fixed price contract to the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) quote, based upon the technical specifications as detailed within the attached statement of work.

FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items. The quoter must have completed the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), which must be uploaded to the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. Additional FAR 52.212-5 clauses cited in the clause applicable to this acquisition are:

52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation 52.222-3, Convict Labor 52.222-19, Child Labor – Cooperation With Authorities And Remedies 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons 52.223-18, Contractor Policy to Ban Text Messaging While Driving 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer

FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference:

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The quoter is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the quoter and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the quoter may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html and http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/default.htm

FAR 52.225-18 – Place of Manufacture.

FAR 52.232-15, Progress Payments Not Included CAR 1352.213-70, Evaluation Using Simplified Acquisition Procedures CAR 1352.215-70, Proposal Preparation CAR 1352.233-70, Agency Protests CAR 1352.233-71, GAO and Court of Federal Claims Protests

FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference:

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html and http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/default.htm

FAR 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors.

FAR 52.247-34, FOB Destination

CAR 1352.201-70, Contracting Officer’s Authority CAR 1352.209-73, Compliance with the Laws CAR 1352.209-74, Organizational Conflict of Interest

CAR 1352.246-70, Place of Acceptance (APR 2010)

(a) The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will accept supplies and services to be provided under this contract.

(b) The place of acceptance will be:

NIST

Shipping and Receiving 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305

NIST LOCAL-04 BILLING INSTRUCTIONS

(a) NIST prefers electronic Invoice/Voucher submissions and they should be emailed to INVOICE@NIST.GOV.

(b) Each Invoice or Voucher submitted shall include the following: (1) Contract Number. (2) Contractor Name and Address. (3) Date of Invoice. (4) Invoice Number. (5) Amount of Invoice and Cumulative Amount Invoiced to-date. (6) Contract Line Item Number (CLIN). (7) Description, Quantity, Unit of Measure, Unit Price, and Extended Price of Supplies/Services Delivered. (8) Prompt Payment Discount Terms, if Offered. (9) Any other information or documentation required by the contract.

(c) In the event electronic submissions are not used, The Contractor shall submit an original invoice or voucher in accordance with the payment provisions of this contract to:

NIST

Accounts Payable Office 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1621 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1621

NIST LOCAL - 39, NIST LOCAL-39 MARKING/PACKING INSTRUCTIONS

(1) If the total contract/order includes multiple quantities of the same or like item(s), segregated as separate CLIN/Item numbers, deliverables shall be packed accordingly. Each individual Package / container in the shipment shall include deliverables on a per-CLIN or Item basis.

(2) For each shipment made under this contract/order, the Contractor shall furnish itemized packing list(s), enumerating the specific contents of each shipping container and what specific individual Components constitute a full and complete "unit" for each bid item. The packing list shall include the brief description of each item found in the Schedule. If more than one container is Required for each unit, each container should be marked accordingly, e.g., "Box 1 of 2," "Box 2 of 2," and the boxes, where feasible, should be taped or shrink-wrapped together as an Issuable unit.

(3) The contract number AND CONTRACT LINE ITEM NUMBER (CLIN) OR ORDER ITEM NUMBER shall be placed on the exterior of all containers.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at aron.krischel@nist.gov.

Aron Krischel Contracting Officer for National Institute of Technology 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305

Background:

The High-Speed Measurements Group of the RF Technology Division (672) within the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) has a requirement for a dilution refrigerator (DR) measurement system which operates dry (cryogen-free) with a pulse tube refrigerator and a passive, supplemental cooling circuit. The DR will be used to host and operate two microwave-optical quantum transducers representing separate nodes of a quantum network testbed. The testbed will be used to demonstrate remote entanglement distribution with continuous variables quantum states. For these studies, we require a multi-stage vacuum cryostat with a base temperature stage which reaches below 10 mK and a cooling power of at least 400 microwatts at 100 mK. Because of the mechanical sensitivity of the quantum transducers, a passive, supplemental cooling circuit (e. g. helium battery) is necessary to operate the DR for periods of experimental time while the noisy pulse tube refrigerator is turned off. Electrical wiring for both RF and DC operations at 4 K and at the base temperature are required to support the transducers and characterize their operation. Optical access to the transducers on the base temperature stage is required in the form of free-space line-of-sight and optical fiber ports. The frame supporting the refrigerator must have vibration isolation with active damping. Since this system will be operated frequently by users with a wide range of experience (novice to expert), it is critical that this system is simple to operate and robust. For sustainability, the cooling system must operate dry and not require replenishment of liquid helium, which is now a restricted resource.

1) Minimum Specifications:

a. Physical dimensions and unique parameters

i. Stand-alone operation, i.e., no excess equipment such as additional vacuum pumps shall be needed to operate the DR.

ii. The supporting structure such as the floor mount must be included.

iii. Vibration management must include an isolation stage for the frame supporting the vacuum can, with active damping to minimize mechanical motion within the 0.1 Hz to 200 Hz range.

iv. Additional vibration isolation to include a remote, rack-mounted turbo pump with bellows and a pulse tube bellows damping stage.

b. Performance of the DR system

i. Cryogen-free operation, i.e., a pulse tube cooler is used instead of liquid helium to cool down to 4 K.

ii. Base temperature stage of below 10 mK.

iii. Cool-down time of less than 24 hours.

iv. Cooling power of at least 400 microwatts at 100 mK.

c. DR vacuum system

i. No membrane pump shall be used in the 3He - 4He mixture circulation because of a reputation for short service periods. The rupture of the membrane can lead to loss or contamination of the mixture.

ii. The dilution unit shall not have any soft solders, which are known to develop micro-fractures and cold leaks over time.

d. Operation

i. Heat-exchange gas-free operation, i.e., the DR shall have only a single vacuum feedthrough stage at room temperature, which implies that no heat exchange gas can be used in the large vacuum can.

ii. DR system must maintain a 10 mK base temperature for a period of at least 3 hours with the pulse tube cooler turned off. This operating mode must enable low-vibration operation via a supplementary cooling mechanism (e.g. helium battery).

iii. Fully automated operation with computer-controlled valves and pumps.

iv. Press-of-a-button cool-down operating option.

v. Possibility to control the DR system with user-written software (e.g. Python, LabView, or MATLAB) running on an additional user-supplied computer.

vi. A control panel with the possibility to override the automation and to fully control the DR system manually.

e. Specialty supplies and accessories

i. Must include temperature measurement and control equipment, such as thermometers and a high-level resistance bridge with a PID controller (e. g. Lakeshore 372S/AC). The resulting temperature stability at the mixing chamber plate must be accurate on a sub-millikelvin level below 100 mK. Thermometers for all plates at different low temperatures must be included.

ii. Must include seven or more line-of-sight ports at least 40 mm in diameter to accommodate all current and future RF wiring, DC wiring, and optical fiber needs.

iii. Must include four optical windows on the sides of the vacuum can and one on the bottom which allow line-of-sight access to the base temperature stage plate. Window material must be fused silica with broadband anti-reflection coating and clear aperture of at least 25 mm.

iv. Must include a warm-up heater, installed, for faster warm-up of the refrigerator. The warm-up heater must include at least one heating element on the 4 K plate and a programmable power supply. Using the heater, the warm-up time for the refrigerator must be 13 hours or less.

v. Must include cool-down lines for the liquid nitrogen.

f. Other detailed specifications and/or line items:

2) Delivery and installation

a. The DR system shall be delivered 8 months ARO to 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.

b. According to the contract draft (Annex 4 to the Invitation to tender). The performance of the Device must be demonstrated by the supplier on-site after installation. He3 will be provided by NIST for the on-site installation and testing. Physical characteristics of the installation location

c. The DR system will be installed in an experimental laboratory room.

i. Installation will be in Building 1, room 4655.

ii. Installation shall be completed within 9 months ARO.

iii. The pumps and gas handling systems will be installed in an adjacent service galley with pipe extensions of no more than 20 feet.

iv. The installation location is situated on the ground floor of the building.

v. The dimensions of the installation space for the frame, vacuum can, and controls are approximately 3 meters by 4 meters with a height of 3 meters. The service galley space is approximately 2 meters by 2 meters with height of 2.5 meters, divided in two, nearby locations.

vi. The installation site can be examined by the manufacturer or vendor beforehand delivery and installation. Requirements for the site to be supplied at least 3 months beforehand. The supplier must check before signing the contract that the installation location fully corresponds to the requirements (electromagnetic noise, vibration level, etc.).

d. Available utilities at the installation location

i. Standard USA electric power of 60 Hz, 110 V / 220 V and 200/230 VAC, 3 Phase, 60 Hz available in the laboratory and/or service galley.

ii. Regulated cooling water is available at the installation location.

iii. Gas supply: building-wide pressurized nitrogen and pressurized air are available at the installation location.

e. Special Material Requirements

i. Government-furnished materials: at least 18 liters of He3.

3) Testing

a. Factory tests with the full DR system to be provided must be carried out before delivery and installation. The optimization of the helium mixture specification and the operation of the automated cool-down must be included and carried out in this configuration.

b. Onsite tests after installation at the NIST-Boulder site of the DR system must be demonstrated to meet all minimum specifications.

4) Training

a. Training will be provided at the NIST-Boulder site for 2 days immediately after acceptance of the installation.

5) Documentation

a. Baseline operating parameters (recorded at the factory) must be included in supplied documentation, including cooling powers at mixing chamber and 2nd stage pulse tube, typical temperatures of all stages (1st and 2nd stage pulse tube, still, intermediate cold plate between still and mixing chamber, and mixing chamber), and helium gas mixture flow rates.

b. The values of all dilution refrigerator circuit impedances as well as the user/operator procedures for measuring their room temperature and low temperature values.

c. Required Helium-3/Helium-4 mixture ratio and total volume.

d. Commercial subsystem manuals, i.e., manuals for all included pumps, compressors, and instrumentation (pressure, temperature).

e. The vendor must provide documentation for thermometry setup and configuration, including all lead resistances, pin assignments, and calibration data.

f. The vendor must provide documentation for all other wiring, including pin assignments and part numbers for commercial mating connectors if applicable.

g. Operating procedures for the end user in the event of power failure, computer failure, or mechanical failure must be outlined and documented.

h. Operating procedures for starting (“cooldown”) and stopping (“warmup”) the system must be documented for the end user.

i. Maintenance intervals for all pumps, compressors, and the pulse tube must be documented by the vendor.

j. Maintenance procedures that can be performed by the end user must be documented by the vendor.

6) Security

a. Manufacturer’s installers and trainers will be registered as visitors to NIST-Boulder and will obtain authorization to work on site.

b. The installers and trainers will be escorted by NIST staff.

7) Warranty

a. Manufacturer’s products: thirty-six (36) months from date of acceptance.

b. Third party products: twelve (12) months from date of acceptance for wiring, optical fiber, windows, isolators, circulators, pumps, valves, etc.

c. Repairs and standard shipping to be included.

8) Support

a. Unlimited telephone customer support during manufacturer’s normal business hours.

b. Support provided by technical personnel who are experienced with the offered system.

c. Responses to inquiries shall be within one (1) business day to the maximum extent practicable.

d. Arrangements shall be in place with third-party suppliers to ensure that such components will receive prompt warranty service in the case of malfunction