Cryogenic Thermometer System

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334413 (Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,250 employees.

The Government requires the procurement of a Cryogenic Thermometer System, and intends to negotiate a sole-source award for this requirement with Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc, 575 McCorkle Blvd, Westerville, OH 43082-8699. Relevant Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. part numbers and product descriptions for the required items are as follows:  

Item 1, qty. 1 each – Part #: RX-102B-RS-0.01B

•  Rox Ruthenium Oxide 102B RTD in RS package, calibrated 10 mK to 40K

Item 2, qty. 1 each – Part #: 372N

• AC resistance bridge and temperature controller for dilution refrigerators

The Government has determined that other companies’ products and services do not meet or cannot be modified to meet the Government’s needs.  Previously, in 2024, RITQ purchased a Cryogenic Thermometer System from Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. which has been integrated into its quantum networking infrastructure.  A new dilution refrigerator will soon be added to the existing infrastructure, which will require an additional thermometer system for the measurement of quantum devices.  In order to maximize uniformity and compatibility across the measurement infrastructure, it is imperative that the additional thermometer system for the new dilution refrigerator be identical to the existing thermometer system which, as previously stated, is Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. branded.  Interchanges with Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. have yielded that they do not maintain a network of resellers for their products and are the sole-source provider.  For these reasons, the Government has determined Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. to be the sole-source provider of the required Cryogenic Thermometer System.

This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to tiffany.slopka@us.af.mil.  Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.

Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 15 May 2025.

A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.