NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) Electronics Package

Added: Dec 27, 2017 2:37 pm SUBJECT: NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) Electronics Package

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SB1341-18-RQ-0122

RESPONSE DATE: January 12, 2018

CONTACT POINTS: Tracy Bisson, Contract Specialist, 301-975-3635

DESCRIPTION:

The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Magnicon GmbH, Barkhausenweg 11, Hamburg, Germany 22339 for the purchase of a CCC Electronics Package for NIST's Quantum Measurement Division (QMD). The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

The NIST QMD develops and disseminate electrical measurement standards in the most accurate and accessible form possible for use in industry and science. In support of this mission, the Division maintains resistance traceability using the quantized Hall resistance (QHR) standard, with intrinsic resistance values given as RH = 25812.807 Ώ/i, where i is a small whole number (typically 2). In order to scale from this fundamental value to other resistance values for calibration services 51100S - 51163C, a specialized resistance bridges known as cryogenic current comparators (CCCs) is required.

The proposed acquisition is to purchase an additional CCC Electronics system to allow both the NIST probe and the NIST purchased Magnicon CCC Superconducting electronics to be used independently with dedicated electronic and separate computer control. NIST owns a CCC Electronics system for use in the maintenance of the US Ohm and quantum Hall resistance standard.

Magnicon GmbH is the sole reseller for this product. The reason is the new controller hardware and software must be operationally compatible with the wideband feedback requirements of the existing Magnicon CCC Superconducting electronics, and utilize the same winding ratios. This requires the precise control of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) sensor to be used to detect the current signal to be generated by the shielded CCC winding. The suppression of noise from the current sources included in this electronics system is difficult, and the Magnicon system is the only commercial system that has successfully demonstrated adequate noise suppression. Other commercially available CCC systems are complete systems which include probe and electronics which are incompatible with the existing Magnicon system. Purchase of a new package to replace all the lab materials would require duplicate costs to the Government. Further, buying these replacement systems cannot provide the flexibility of different measurement ratios that the Magnicon probe and system provide. Magnicon GmbH is the only manufacturer and distributor of the required CCC Electronics package in the world.

Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 and the size standard is 1,000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern on January 12, 2018. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to tracy.bisson@nist.gov . No telephone requests will be honored.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.