Combined Sources Sought Notice and Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract for : Procurement of Cryogenic, Optical-Accessible, Magnetic-Field-Capable- Strain Cell "COM-Strain Cell”

The National Institute of Standards and Technology issued a combined sources sought notice and notice of intent to award a sole-source contract for procurement of one Cryogenic, Optical-Accessible, Magnetic-Field-Capable Strain Cell system, with responses due by September 9, 2026. NIST's preliminary market research identified Razorbill Instruments Limited as the only source examined capable of meeting requirements; if no capable alternative sources respond, NIST intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with Razorbill under FAR 13.106-1(b).

The strain cell must support the Physical Measurement Laboratory's Quantum Measurement Division and integrate with NIST's existing attoDRY 2100 magneto-cryostat and Raman/photoluminescence spectroscopic instrumentation to enable optical measurements as a function of strain, temperature, magnetic field, and electrical bias. Minimum specifications include a 47 mm diameter universal stress/strain cell for micron-scale samples at cryogenic temperatures; low-noise 2-channel, 4-way multiplexer; capacitance bridge (20 Hz to 300 kHz); four-sample electrical contact mounting; two-channel, 4-quadrant power supply (200 V sink/source, bipolar); self-contained temperature calibration; interoperability with attocube MIC stick and ANSz100 scanner; all required cables, wires, sample base plate, cage plate; and measurement insert compatible with attocube U210000. All equipment must be new, commercially available, and meet applicable industry safety standards.

Respondents should submit company summary information, product specifications with manufacturer details and country of manufacture, commercial pricing, standard commercial terms and conditions, FAR Clause 52.219-14 compliance information, and details on existing governmentwide contract vehicles such as GSA MAS contracts.