NOTICE OF INTENT- PARSTAT Multichannel Chassis

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with AMETEK, located in Berwyn, PA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for a Multichannel Chassis.  

Specific Requirements are as follows:

Minimum technical specifications for the Multichannel Chassis

Hardware

1. Minimum of 10 slot multichannel chassis for fully modular experience where each component is replaceable easily by the user.  That includes the replacement of, at least, the power supply, fans and USB hub.
2. A multiple variety of potentiostat cards (single and dual-channel, with different specifications) to provide an apparatus, within the same chassis, capable of 18-20 channels.
3. Potentiostat modules connected to the chassis must operate independently without reducing the measurement accuracy below 0.3% and 0.3 degrees when operated simultaneously.
4. Current dynamic range between 4 nA full scale to 2A on each channel without the requirement of boosting the signal.
5. Current resolution in the low hundreds of fA with the option of “low-currents” in the low hundreds of aA.
6. Capability of swapping cards so that cards can be added or removed without interrupting experiments on the already assembled channels.

Software capabilities

1. The system must be compatible with an acquisition and analysis software that will allow for the overlaying of data files coming from multiple channels all in a single plot (e.g., VersaStudio 2.66).  This must be possible during and after acquisition.  Also, the file format must allow for the exchange of files with the existing (in our lab) Solartron analysis software.

This shall be provided and accomplished in accordance with these specifications.

NAICS Code is 334516 –Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to AMETEK 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 9/1/2023. 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 the date and time provided herein this posting.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION:

Market research resulted in AMETEK being the only vendor that can supply a PARSTAT Multichannel Chassis with the capability of connecting Princeton Applied Research (PAR) potentiostats for measuring impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical reactions which is needed for research on cell migration as well as bioactivity of biological cells.  The multichannel chassis allows for at least 10 modules and at least 20 channels. Those modules provide for single and/or dual-channels.  The multichannel chassis provides capabilities to use cards (potentiostats) interchangeably within the same apparatus, and with a variety of frequency ranges for analysis (up to 1 MHz, but with capability of later add cards with frequencies of up to 7 MHz).  AMETEK is the only vendor that supplies a PARSTAT Multichannel Chassis that is capable of being used with existing PMC 1000 and PMC 200 potentiostats/impedance analyzer modules.   Failure to process this request would cause NIST not to be able to expand the number of users that can use these modules for research on cell migration as well as bioactivity of biological cells.