Keyence LJ-X8020 laser profiler with a LJ-X8002 controller (IT Related)

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Engineering Lab (EL), Production Systems Group (PSG) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with Keyence Corporation of America to acquire a Keyence LJ-X8020 laser profiler with a LJ-X8002 controller.

Background Information and Basis for Sole Source

The Production Systems Group (PSG) at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts research in metals-based additive manufacturing (AM) to develop and deploy advances in measurement science that will enable rapid design-to-product transformation.  Part of this research involves in-situ and ex-situ measurements of AM-laser powder bed fusion parts. This purchase is providing a means to measure the surface and powder bed profile of each layer during a multiple-layer build. The overarching research goal will be to use this information to characterize powder denudation, powder layer thickness, recoating blade errors, defects, in addition to the fused surface and powder bed topography at each layer to enhance predictions of part quality and process optimization.

This procurement is being made to enable the on-machine metrology required to support the fundamental measurements for AM project research initiatives. The product intended to be procured is a Keyence LJ-X8020 laser profiler with a LJ-X8002 controller that will be used to obtain high resolution measurements of fused layer topography and powder bed characteristics. Market research included a review of similar commercial products. The Keyence profiler was the only commercial system that meets the required spatial resolution (less than 5 um) and vertical resolution (less than 1 um).  Other off the shelf commercial line scanners did not meet all of the specifications nor provide all critical features required. Not moving forward with this purchase will further delay the ability to measure and disseminate accurate powder layer thickness, powder denudation, powder, and fused layer topography measurements during LPBF additive manufacturing. Delaying this purchase could also delay progress in positioning NIST to be a national leader in developing and disseminating new metrology methods for LPBF-AM.

As such, the Government’s intent is to negotiate directly with Keyence Corporation of America to acquire a Keyence LJ-X8020 laser profiler with a LJ-X8002 controller.

General

The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516-

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the listed due date, will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

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 on or before the response due 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 Seth Kaplan at seth.kaplan@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at seth.kaplan@nist.gov no later than the aforementioned due date.