Gravimeter

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the Department of Commerce, is seeking to procure one portable, relative, precision gravimeter for use in their Physical Measurements Laboratory to support the NIST Kibble balance program for realizing the unit mass under the Revised SI standards. The solicitation requires a quartz-based, non-clamping gravimeter with specific technical capabilities including 0.1 microGal reading resolution, automatic corrections for solid earth tides and instrument tilt, and remote operation via Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. Offerors must submit four distinct volumes: technical quotation demonstrating compliance with specifications, relevant experience documentation showing up to three similar contracts, separate firm-fixed-price quotation, and terms and conditions. The evaluation will be conducted based on technical capability, relevant experience, and price, with technical factors weighted more heavily than price considerations. Electronic quotations are due by July 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT, with pricing required to remain valid for 90 days following submission.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside under solicitation number 1333ND25QNB680268, with no incumbent contractors identified in the documentation. The contract requires delivery within 90 days to NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland facility, where the gravimeter will be installed and integrated into the laboratory operations supporting precision measurements. The instrument must weigh less than 15 pounds, include more than 2 GB of internal memory, dual battery systems, and come with FOB destination shipping, installation, training, and a minimum one-year warranty covering parts and labor. Payment terms specify 100% compensation upon successful installation and acceptance, with the government conducting inspection within 15 business days of receipt. The place of performance is located in Gaithersburg, MD 20899, where the gravimeter will support critical measurements for determining gravity and gravity gradients essential to the Kibble balance operations.