Pre Sol.docx

PRE-SOLICITATION

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 6640 – Laboratory Equipment & Supplies SUBJECT: Neutron Guide Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1333NDRNB610011

CONTACT POINTS: Don Collie, Contracting Officer

Ranae Armstrong, Contract Specialist Email: ranae.armstrong@nist.gov Tel: 301.975.8088

DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this procurement is to create an ordering vehicle to manufacture custom-made neutron guides, in accordance with Specifications and Drawings that will be provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Engineering Staff.

The NIST NCNR is a large laboratory facility consisting of a suite of instruments that measure the interaction of radiation with various materials to study their structure and properties. The NCNR maintains a wide variety of instruments that allow great flexibility in the type of samples and phenomena that can be studied and measured. Most of these instruments use neutrons with energies at the low end of the energy spectrum called cold neutrons. These cold neutrons must be delivered from the neutron source to the instruments. Neutron guides are used for this purpose. In much the same manner as a fiber optic cable carries light rays, the neutron guides channel the neurons away from the source and carry them to a location where the are used to probe matter in one of the many neutron-reflective material to maximize the transmission of neutrons by allowing those making contact continue downstream toward the desired destination. The characteristic angle and reflection efficiency are functions of the reflective surface and coating properties and the energy of the incident neutron. In order to remain a state-of-the-art neutron scattering facility, the NCNR continues to evolve by adding new instrumentation and upgrading existing instrumentation.

Part of this evolution is a continual, but highly variable need for the neutron guides. In addition, to prevent a decrease in our current research capacity at the NCNR, an inventory of spare guides must be maintained, both to replace guides damaged as a result of incidental damage and to replace guides close to the source that suffer a deterioration in neutron conductance as a result of radiation exposure.

This requirement creates a mechanism for purchasing completed neutron guides, custom-made to satisfy the parameters and specifications provided by the NCNR Engineering staff. The geometry and neutron-reflective properties of these neutron guides will vary. It is impossible to anticipate far in advance what the NCNR requirements for guides will be, both in quantity and in type. Because neutron guides are custom-made long lead time items, once a requirement arises at the NCNR, the need for making an award quickly to a pre-qualified vendor is desirable.

It is desirable to have multiple BOA awardees to maximize NCNR use of the world’s limited guide-making capacity and to take advantage of price competition.

The period of performance shall be a total of five (5) years from the date of award.

NIST anticipates this procurement to be procured using full and open competition.

A firm fixed-price, multiple award, Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) is anticipated.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 334516 with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

The competitive Request for Proposal (RFP), RFP amendments and all questions and answers related to this procurement will be made available via the Internet at www.beta.sam.gov under RFP number 1333ND20RNB610011.

POTENTIAL OFFERORS ARE RESPONSBILE FOR ACCESSING THE WEB SITE.

Interested parties MUST respond to the RFP in order to be considered for award of any resultant contract.

THERE IS NO WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT AVAILABLE, TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL NOT BE HONORED AND NO BIDDERS LIST WILL BE MAINTAINED. Potential offerors must direct all questions via email to ranae.armstrong@nist.gov to receive a Government response.