Elemental Analyzers for Determination of Carbon, Sulfur, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen in Alloys

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the Department of Commerce, is seeking to procure two elemental analyzers to support its Materials Science and Engineering Division's sustainable metals processing project. The procurement specifically requires one analyzer for determining carbon and sulfur content and one analyzer for determining oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen content in alloys, with both instruments meeting stringent technical specifications and precision requirements. The solicitation is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, meaning the government will select the lowest-priced quotation that meets all technical requirements. Offerors must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration and demonstrate comprehensive technical capability to meet the specified performance criteria. The solicitation was posted on June 27, 2025, with quotations due by July 9, 2025, providing potential contractors with a brief 12-day response window.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and is unrestricted, applying a small business size standard of 1,000 employees under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. While no specific award values or budget ranges are disclosed in the available documentation, the contract requires delivery of both analyzers within 90 calendar days after award, along with training for two NIST personnel within 10 business days of equipment receipt. The contract includes a minimum one-year warranty covering manufacturer defects and requires that both analyzers be new equipment with comprehensive operation and maintenance manuals. Performance will take place at NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland campus, where contractors must comply with specific security protocols including vehicle and identification badge registration for campus access. The procurement emphasizes safety compliance and requires acceptance testing to demonstrate that all specified performance criteria are met before final acceptance of the equipment.