Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer System

Introduction
This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with TA Instruments – Waters, LLC located at 159 Lukens Dr., New Castle, DE 19720. The purchase order is to procure an RSA-G2 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) System to replace an existing, Government-owned, RSA-3 DMA System that was previously manufactured by TA Instruments – Waters LLC. The RSA-G2 DMA System shall be delivered within four months after contractor receipt of order. 

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106(b)(1) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

Description
Please see the attached Statement of Need/Required Specifications document for details. 

Sole Source Determination
The sole source determination is based on the following: 

The TA Instruments – Waters LLC RSA-G2 DMA System is required to provide NIST with measurement capabilities and accurate mechanical data consistent with existing research developed using the TA Instruments – Waters LLC RSA-3 DMA System. All research test methods and protocols must be compatible with those developed at NIST using the existing RSA-3 DMA to ensure research integrity and compatibility with previous results. Only the RSA-G2 DMA System manufactured by TA Instruments – Waters LLC will fulfill this requirement.

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. 

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Hunter Tjugum, Contract Specialist, at Hunter.Tjugum@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to hunter.tjugum@nist.gov so that they are received no later than March 29, 2021 at 4:00 PM, Eastern Time.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

a.    Contractor Name, Address, 
b.    Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
c.    Contractor DUNS 
d.    Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov. 
e.    Capability Statement