Materials Testing Stage

NOTICE TO SOLE SOURCE

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with Psylotech, Inc. located at 1616 Payne St.,  Evanston, IL, 60201, to fulfill the below requirement.

The sole source justification is based on the following:  The Material Measurement Laboratory’s Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD) conducts research on the development of innovative metrologies and measurement protocols for micro/nano-scale heterosystems analysis. Measurement techniques are used to determine sample composition as well as structural, electronic, and chemical properties of a wide variety of organic, inorganic and biomolecular systems where materials of interest are typically present as either micro/nano-scale features or monolayer/multilayer films.  To meet mission requirements, the MMSD needs to procure a PsyloTech materials testing stage/station. The requested procurement is to support a cooperative research and development agreement between NIST and a corporate partner, by assembling a working instance of a materials testing stage/station based on a design that was developed, tested, and is in use by the CRADA collaborators. 

The required materials testing stage/station used in the replicate CRADA collaborator’s analysis system requires the following items from PsyloTech:  a μTS – 1.6kN premium micro test system with NIST traceable high resolution load cell, local displacement sensor, universal testing hub, PC control unit and PsylotestTM and LabViewTM software, one set of clamp tension grips, TTL 5v triggering card, and jog/stop hand pendant; a convection temperature chamber with solenoid gas inlet; wrap around tension grips; wrap around grip customization; dog bone tension; mini dog bone tension; 3 point bending; Arcan compression grips; and platform grips. To maintain performance and interoperability of the systems and collected data, MMSD requires a Materials Testing Stage that is pin-to-pin compatible to the above items.   Any deviation from compatible components would result in a reduced level of performance, an increase in experimental uncertainty, and potentially extensive costly reengineering and retrofitting. 

The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 334516 with a size standard of 1000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 8:00 am EST August 6,  2020, 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.