Notice of Intent.pdf

FBO ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT

ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICE

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 – Instruments and Laboratory Equipment

SUBJECT: Fluorescent Phosphate Optical Glass Units

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis IAW RFO Part 12.102(a), statutory authority 41 U.S.C. 1901, with Starna Cells, located in Atascadero, California for Fluorescent Phosphate Optical Glass Units.

Sole Source Justification is based on the following:

NISTs Biosystems and Biomaterials Division (BBD) requires units of copper-containing phosphate-based glass with specific dimensions and optical properties to prepare candidate NIST Standard Reference Material SRM 2943a – Relative Intensity Standard for Fluorescence Spectroscopy – Blue Emission. Once certified as a NIST SRM, these standards will replace currently unavailable NIST SRM 2943 for national measurement traceability of fluorescence emission intensity spectra.

Preparation of these glass units require glass manufacturing that is unlike glass manufacturing for consumer glass products or for scientific glassware comprised of soda glass / lime glass, borosilicate glass / pyrex, quartz, or aluminosilicate. These glass units must be prepared from high-purity, optical-quality phosphate glass containing added copper so that the units exhibit the required optical and fluorescence properties required for the needed NIST SRM. Phosphate glass melts are chemically reactive, including with the hardware and equipment, used in preparing other types of glass, and heavy metal salts / heavy metal containing glass melts require special handling and safety procedures.

Market research by the Government, including historical procurement data dating back to the original NIST-manufactured preparations of NIST SRMs 2942 & NIST 2943 in 2009, has only identified Starna Cells, Inc., as the sole U.S. small business provider of the Fluorescent Phosphate Optical Glass Units. Lastly, federal data systems show that NIST has procured SRMs with Starna Cells for glass production, cutting, shaping, and polishing for over the past 40 years.

The resulting order will be a Firm-Fixed Price purchase order.

NAICS code for this requirement will be 327212 – Other Pressed & Blown Glass & Glassware Manufacturing, with a small size standard 0f 1,250 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 3/11/2026 will be considered by the Government.