NOTICE OF INTENT-48 Channel DAC

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division, intends to negotiate with QDevil, Inc., located in Palo Alto, CA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source to purchase 48 Channel DAC for Cryogenic Sensor Biasing.     

NIST requires electronics to bias 3000 cryogenic sensors. This large sensor count requires 48 DAC channels and corresponding breakout boxes and low-pass filtering. DAC channels will be used for both sensor biasing and sensor debugging and tuning, and thus must be capable of both DC and AC output. Due to the low-noise and high voltage stability required for cryogenic experiments, a vendor with proven expertise in the design and implementation of electronics for low-temperature applications is required. All electronics (including other sensor readout electronics not included in this packet) shall fit within a 22.5x35.2x67.4-inch electronics rack. The DAC channels and associated electronics will enable the simultaneous operation of all 3000 cryogenic sensors in an x-ray spectrometer.

The NAICS Code is 334515, Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a small business size standard of 750 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price contract to QDevil, Inc. for this requirement.

Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued by January 21, 2022. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to angela.hitt@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than December 23, 2021 at 11 a.m. MST.