FDM 3D Printer

Description: 

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition.  It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes.  No award will be made as a result of this notice.  The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.  This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Purpose and Objectives: By using the latest technology in Rapid Prototyping, the Section on Instrumentation (SI) engineering group is able to increase productivity and effectiveness while at the same time decreasing the amount of time needed to engineer and fabricate the components.  SI requires a large format FM 3D Printer to produce working models.

Product Description: FDM 3D Printer

Salient Characteristics:

1. Machine must be capable of producing functional parts using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
2. Machine must be capable of using the following materials:  ABS-M30, ABS-M30i, ASA, FDM Nylon 12, FDM Nylon 12CF, PC, PC-ABS, PC-ISO, ULTEM 9085, ULTEM 1010, and ST-130
3. System must be able to produce parts (build area) up to 14” x 14” x 14”
4. Parts must be produced in a heated build chamber.  The servo motors controlling the FDM extrusion head must be external to the heated chamber
5. System must be able to build models directly from a 3D CAD file
6. Parts produced must not require external adhesives or glues used to bind material together
7. Parts should be functional when removed from machine and should not require additional steps for fusing the material
8. Machine must be capable of being installed in an office environment
9. Machine must have capability to use support material that can be removed mechanically or within a soluble solution
10. System should also be able to adjust build layer accuracy to change how parts are produced for detail and speed
11. Capability to print/build layers in range from .005” - .013” for high resolution depending on material
12. Filament for the machine should be in resealable canisters to avoid moisture contamination
13. Parts should be printed on product specific build sheets held down by a vacuum clamping system to prevent parts from lifting during printing process
14. Includes Nylon 12CF Hardware upgrade with Nylon 12CF Delivery Head, Hardened drive blocks, Y-block and Head storage
15. System should be new and not refurbished
16. Onsite Maintenance support must be provided by manufacturer.  On-site maintenance and repair service visits must be within 3 business days of repair request.
17. Able to provide system delivery and installation at NIH facility, training, first year standard warranty

Quantity: 1 machine

Delivery Date: 60 days following the award of the contract

Period of Performance:The availability of extended warranties packages is/are desirable.  

Option(s): None.  See desirable warranty information described in POP. 

Capability statement /information sought.  Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specified in this notice including providing information regarding being an authorized provider of the services.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. 

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist.  Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Michael Horn, at e-mail address michael.horn@nih.gov .

The response must be received on or beforeJune 22, 2020, 5:00pm, Eastern Time.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:  This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).