High-pressure XPS System

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), under the Department of Commerce, is soliciting quotations for a High-Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) System to support the CHIPS Plasma XPS project. The procurement encompasses three major line items: an Ambient Pressure/Near-Ambient Pressure XPS analyzer capable of operating at elevated pressures up to 20 Torr for water vapor, a monochromatized Al Kα X-ray source with sub-250 meV resolution and variable spot sizes of 1 mm or smaller, and differential pumping systems with associated control electronics and software. All equipment must be new and shipped in original manufacturer packaging with complete documentation. Award will be made on a best-value basis where technical capability and demonstrated experience are significantly more important than price. Quotations must be submitted electronically by 11:00 AM Eastern Time on April 29, 2026, with pre-quote inquiries required within five calendar days of the solicitation issuance date (by April 21, 2026), and quotations remain valid for 90 days following the submission deadline.

This is an unrestricted competition with no small business set-aside, conducted under simplified acquisition procedures for commercial products and services under the applicable NAICS code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing). No incumbent contractor or current contract holder is identified in the solicitation materials. The budget value is not explicitly stated in the solicitation notice, though payment is structured on a firm-fixed-price basis with a not-to-exceed amount for transportation and related expenses as a separate line item. The system must be delivered to NIST Building 216, D109 lab in Gaithersburg, Maryland no later than ten months after contract award, with installation completed within 30 days of delivery and commissioning within four weeks post-delivery. The contractor shall provide training for up to five NIST users within seven days of installation and maintain a minimum one-year warranty following FAR requirements, with all delivery terms set as F.O.B. Destination.