NOTICE OF INTENT-Horizontal Dry Dilution Refrigerator Gas Handling System

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Bluefors. Inc, (CAGE: 93P50), located in Brooklyn NY, on a sole-source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source to purchase a Horizontal Dry Dilution Refrigerator gas handling system for NIST’s Bluefors Dry Refrigerator.

The NAICS for this requirement is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business standard of 1,000 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price contract to Bluefors, Inc. for this requirement. 

The Quantum Calorimeter group at NIST requires a modification to the Gas Handling System of a Blue Fors Horizontal Dry Dilution Refrigerator gas handling system. Currently the gas handling system is split into two portions, one large vertical rack, and a second smaller table on which a turbo molecular pump rests. NIST requires design, parts, and installation of said parts such that the components mounted on the smaller table are incorporated into the larger rack. This is required to reduce the floor area required by the dilution refrigerator system, so that it may be used in an area with significant space constraints. NIST requires that the work done maintains NIST’s existing warranty coverage and performance. NIST requires on site installation.

 
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 August 29, 2025. 
 
Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer at angela.hitt@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to the Contracting Officer at  angela.hitt@nist.gov  no later than the submission deadline of this notice.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION:

The Quantum Calorimeter group at NIST requires a modification to the Gas Handling System of a Blue Fors Horizontal Dry Dilution Refrigerator gas handling system. Currently the gas handling system is split into two portions, one large vertical rack, and a second smaller table on which a turbo molecular pump rests. If any other company works on this system, it will void NIST’s warranty with Bluefors, Inc. If this requirement is not purchased, all research with the Dilution Refrigerator will come to a halt and be detrimental to the research being performed.