Mecademic Robotics MECA500-R4-OB Robot Arm (BRAND NAME OR EQUAL)

Request for Information / Sources Sought Notice for Providers/Suppliers of

Mecademic Robotics MECA500-R4-OB Robot Arm (BRAND NAME OR EQUAL)

Notice ID: NIST-AMD-SSN-26-02447

Contract Opportunity Type

Sources Sought

Response Date: August 24, 2026 @ 10:00 AM, ET

Product Service Code

3693 - Industrial Assembly Machines

NAICS Code

333998 - All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing with the small business size standard of 700 employees.

BACKGROUND

This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) for industry to help the Government determine the availability and capability of small business and other than small businesses which can provide any or all of the products and services required by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST is conducting market research to identify potential sources that can provide a Mecademic Robotics MECA500-R4-OB Robot Arm (OR EQUAL) that meets all technical specifications identified in this notice.

This notice is strictly to request information for market research purposes to help NIST determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for this requirement. This notice shall not be construed as a solicitation, an obligation, or commitment by NIST.

OVERVIEW

The Intelligent Systems Division (ISD) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) needs a Mecademic Robotics MECA500-R4-OB (or equivalent) ROBOT ARM suitable for robotic assembly applications and portable for demonstrations. One of the programmatic goals of this effort is to demonstrate and develop tests for different robotic manufacturing applications.   

NIST requires one (1) Mecademic Robotics MECA500-R4-OB (or equivalent) ROBOT ARM, including hardware, software, accessories, calibration certificate, and warranty. The delivered system shall include everything necessary for immediate operation in a laboratory environment.

LINE ITEM 1: Quantity One (1) each, Mecademic Robotics MECA500-R4-OB (Brand Name or Equivalent) ROBOT ARM

The ROBOT ARM must meet the following minimum salient characteristics:
 

1. The ROBOT ARM must have a minimum payload that meets or exceeds 0.5 kg.
2. The ROBOT ARM must have a minimum arm reach of 330 mm (or more).
3. The ROBOT ARM must weigh less than or equal to 5 kg without any cables.
4. The ROBOT ARM must have a position repeatability of less than or equal to ± 0.005 mm.
5. The ROBOT ARM must have Six (6) degrees of freedom.
6. The ROBOT ARM must have black surface finish to absorb 90% visible light or higher.

LINE ITEM 2: Quantity One (1) each, PS200-R4 POWER SUPPLY (OR EQUAL)

The  POWER SUPPLY must be compatible with the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1 and have appropriate connectors that fit the ROBOT ARM.

LINE ITEM 3: Quantity One (1) each, MGC-HFA COMMUNICATION CABLE (OR EQUAL)

The COMMUNICATION CABLE must be compatible with LINE ITEM 1 and the GRIPPERS in LINE ITEM 5 and LINE ITEM 6

LINE ITEM 4: Quantity One (1) each, MUAP01 universal ADAPTER PLATE (OR EQUAL)

The ADAPTER PLATE must meet the following minimum salient characteristics:

1. The ADAPTER PLATE must be of the size 125 mm × 100 mm for mounting the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1 on an aluminum T-slotted profile and optical breadboards of 25 mm pitch.

LINE ITEM 5: Quantity One (1) each, MEGP-25E electric GRIPPER (OR EQUAL)

The GRIPPER must have the following minimum salient characteristics:

1. The GRIPPER must be compatible with the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1.
2. The GRIPPER must have a stroke of 6 mm (or more).
3. The GRIPPER must be able to grip with a force of 40 N (or more).
4. A power/energy source for the GRIPPER must be provided. The power/energy for the GRIPPER may be provided through the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1.

LINE ITEM 6: Quantity One (1) each, MEGP-25LS electric GRIPPER (OR EQUAL)

The GRIPPER must have the following minimum salient characteristics:

1. The GRIPPER must be compatible with the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1
2. The GRIPPER must have a stroke of 48 mm (or more).
3. The GRIPPER must be able to grip with a force of 40 N (or more).
4. A power/energy source for GRIPPER must be provided. The power/energy for the GRIPPER may be provided through the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1.

LINE ITEM 7: Quantity One (1) each, MPM500 PNEUMATIC MODULE (OR EQUAL)

• The PNEUMATIC MODULE must be compatible with the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1 and provides an interface with various pneumatic tools.

LINE ITEM 8: Quantity One (1) each, Mecademic MECA DEMO CASE (OR EQUAL)

• The DEMO CASE must be a waterproof & shockproof hard case with wheels and an adjustable handle that can carry the ROBOT ARM in LINE ITEM 1

WARRANTY

The contractor shall warrant the entire system for a minimum of one year after acceptance.

ANTICIPATED DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

Delivery shall be F.O.B Destination NIST will inspect and test the equipment in the lab for a period of 60 calendar days after delivery to ensure that the manufacturer’s specifications have been met and that the equipment is functioning correctly before official acceptance. Installation and training are not required.

INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM INDUSTRY SOURCES:

NIST invites industry sources to review this notice carefully and to familiarize themselves with the details. Thereafter, NIST encourages sources to submit the following:

• Company Summary:

1. Notice ID and its Title for this posting
2. Your company’s name, address, website address and Unique Entity Identifier (if the company has one)
3. Company point of contact, their phone number, and their email address
4. Your company’s size status as it relates to 333998 - All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing.  See table of business size standards at https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards for more information.
5. Indicate whether your company has an active registration for procurement purposes in sam.gov.

• Place of Manufacture/Origin: Please identify whether the potential product is manufactured in whole or in part in the United States. If it is manufactured outside of the United States, in whole or in part, pleas identify the country of manufacture.
   
• Existing Contract Vehicles: Indicate whether your company has a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract or other federal contract under which NIST would be authorized to place an order, and if so, provide a copy of that contract (including contract number, name and contact information for contracting officer, contract SOW, contract terms and conditions and contract prices).

The Government reserves the right to follow up on a one-on-one basis with respondents to request additional information or clarifications about information submitted.

THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. NIST WILL NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RESULTS OF THIS MARKET RESEARCH. REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE PROVIDED

SUBMMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested parties shall submit responses to by the closing date of this notice to Brian.Jamieson@nist.gov.

• Microsoft Word (or PDF) document
• Submission shall not exceed five (5) pages. Cover page and Standard Commercial Pricing pages are not included in the total page count.
• Respondents are requested to state their capabilities and expertise in clear and concise language.
• Respondents are strongly encouraged to avoid use of excessive marketing and sales language.

Cover Page

Respondents shall include the following Business information on the Cover Page:

1. Sources Sought Notice number, title, and date of issuance
2. Unique Entity ID
3. Company Name
4. Company Address
5. Company website address,
6. Company Point of Contact, Phone, and Email address
7. Validation of business status under NAICS: 333998 - All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing. See table of business size standards at https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards for more information.
8. Indicate whether your company has an active registration for procurement purposes in sam.gov.

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of NIST.

NIST does not intend to award a contract based on responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted.

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NIST shall arise because of a response to this notice or NIST’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation

Confidentiality

Do not include proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information in response to this notice. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary information as it deems appropriate in establishing requirements for its upcoming acquisition.

DISCLAIMER

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. Information provided will be used to help NIST assess alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received and other market research, NIST may publish a solicitation on SAM.gov or on GSA ebuy, depending on the acquisition strategy chosen by NIST. NIST will not consider quotations submitted directly in response to this notice for award. Responses received after the closing date for this notice may not be considered for market research purposes.