NOTICE OF INTENT-Precision Shaker

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Spektra, located in San Juan Capistrano, CA, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for a Precision Shaker.  

Specific Requirements are as follows:

Minimum technical specifications for the shaker

1. Vertical operation
2. Maximum payload of at least 1000 grams
3. Frequency range of at least 5 Hz to 15 kHz for frequency response measurements.
4. Able to supply an acceleration with a 150 gram load of at least 100 m/s2 over the frequency range of 30 Hz to 10 kHz continuously for 5 minutes.
5. First resonance > 50 kHz
6. Transverse motion less than 3% between 5 kHz and 15 kHz.
7. Shaker Dimensions: requires less than 1 square foot table space and less than 6” height, shaker weight less than 20 kg
8. A calibration certificate traceable to NIST for operation between 5Hz and 20 kHz with no load.

Minimum technical specifications for the reference accelerometer

1. Mounted internally to shaker
2. Sensitivity >= 1 mV/(m/s2)
3. Freq range (3dB) greater than 3 Hz to 30 kHz
4. Resonant frequency greater than 50 kHz
5. Deviation from linearity less than 1%

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 Spektra 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 8/12/2023. 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 Spektra being the only vendor that can supply a Precision Shaker.  The Physical Measurement Laboratory at NIST develops advanced sensors to measure acceleration. As part of this work a shaker (also called a vibrational exciter system) is required to test photonic accelerometers. The shaker will operate vertically and include an internal reference accelerometer. The system will include the shaker, the amplifier to run it, the internal reference accelerometer, and the signal conditioning electronics to read it, as well as all cables and accessories required to operate the system with an accelerometer mounted. Failure to process this request would cause NIST not to be able to measure acceleration.