NOTICE OF INTENT-Pulse Tube Cryocooler

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with High Precision Devices, Inc., located in Boulder, Colorado, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for a pulse tube cryocooler.

Specific Requirements are as follows:

• Linkages with high thermal conductivity to transmit the cooling power of the pulse tube cryocooler to the 4 K and 50 K stages of adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators with minimal temperature gradient across the linkages.
• Linkages should also be flexible to minimize vibration transmission from the pulse tube cryocooler to the attached refrigerator.  Thus, linkages should be comprised of material like OFHC copper wire bundles.
• Design of linkages should allow connection to the 4 K and 50 K stage plates in FormFactor (High Precision Devices) model 102 and model 103 adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators. Here linkage design refers to the dimensions of the linkages and, especially, the bolt patterns for attaching the linkages to the adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators.

NAICS Code is 334413 –Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing, with a Size Standard of 1,250 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to High Precision Devices, 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 8/12/2024. 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:

Due to the nature of the parts for procurement, particularly the pulse tube design and integration with existing units at NIST, Cryomech authorizes only Form Factor/High Precision Devices, Inc. to provide the pulse tube cryocooler, because it contains Form Factor’s IP. Failure to process this request would prevent NIST from continuing its fundamental research on sensor and cryocooler behavior.