MTS FlexTest60 Controller

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE
MTS FlexTest60 Controller

Announcement Type: Special Notice
Announcement Number: NIST-NOI-25-7301841
Subject: Procurement of one (1) MTS FlexTest60 Controller
 

Introduction
This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with MTS Systems Corporation (MTS) located at 14000 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55244-2247. The purchase order will be for acquisition of a FlexTest60 Controller and associated calibration. Delivery will be required within five months after contractor receipt of order.

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106(b)(1) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Equipment Manufacturing with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

Description
Please see the attached draft Statement of Requirements for details.

Sole Source Determination
The sole source determination is based on the following:
 

The Structural Testing Laboratory of the NIST Engineering Laboratory uses MTS actuators and MTS testing frames to execute experimental projects. An MTS FlexTest100 Controller currently controls all the MTS actuators and the 220 kips and 50 kips MTS testing frames in the Structural Testing Laboratory.

NIST requires an additional controller so that the actuators and test frames may be run separately. As the test frames and actuators are proprietary to the original equipment manufacturer, MTS, only an MTS controller may be used to operate the systems. MTS does not authorize resellers. Therefore, only MTS Systems Corporation can meet the Government’s requirements. The MTS controller required is made in the United States. 
 

Information for Interested Parties
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 by or before the response 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 Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at Lauren.Roller@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to Lauren.Roller@nist.gov so that they are received no later than June 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor (SAM) Universal Entity Identification (UEI)
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement