NIST - NB688000-26-00736 - Cryocooler Vacuum Chambers

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research through this Sources Sought Notice to identify vendors capable of manufacturing specialized Cryocooler Vacuum Chambers for its Ion Storage Group. The procurement seeks two ultra-high vacuum chambers—one with an 8-inch outer diameter and one with a 6-inch outer diameter—designed to house cryostats for integrated photonics experiments related to quantum computing, quantum networks, and atomic clocks. The chambers must be fabricated from 316LN stainless steel with electropolished finishes suitable for ultra-high vacuum service and must achieve temperatures of approximately 5 Kelvin. Vendors must demonstrate manufacturing capability and experience through electronic capability statements limited to four pages, including company information, specification sheets, product examples, delivery timelines, and country of origin. Interested parties must submit responses to Contract Specialist Matthew M. Delgado at matthew.delgado@nist.gov by the March 4, 2026 deadline. The evaluation will focus on identifying at least two qualified small businesses to determine whether a small business set-aside procurement is warranted. This is a market research phase only, and no quotes or binding commitments will be accepted at this time.

This procurement carries no set-aside designation at the pre-solicitation stage, though the results of this market research may lead to a small business set-aside if two or more qualified small businesses are identified. The requirement falls under NAICS code 333242 (Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,500 employees. Delivery and acceptance of the chambers, installation, and training must be completed within 16 weeks from award, with government acceptance testing expected to occur within 7 business days of delivery. The chambers must meet strict performance standards, including leak-rate testing at less than 10^-9 mbarL/s, and must comply with precise dimensional tolerances of ±0.060 inches with 1-degree angular tolerance on welded dimensions as specified in the attached technical drawings and CAD files. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice, and no incumbent contractors are identified. Vendor-supplied drawings require government approval prior to manufacturing commencement.