Notice of Intent to Sole Source - FormFactor Programmable Stage

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to negotiate a sole source purchase with FormFactor Inc. of Livermore, California for a programmable stage and installation for a government-owned probe station. The procurement is being conducted under simplified acquisition procedures with statutory authority citing 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) for "only one responsible source" and will utilize a firm-fixed-price purchase order structure. NIST's market research determined that FormFactor Inc. is the sole manufacturer capable of providing both the product and installation services required. The acquisition falls under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a size standard of 1000 employees. This notice is not a solicitation but rather an announcement of intent to proceed with sole source negotiations.

The programmable stage is intended for NIST's Communications Technology Laboratory Radio Frequency Technology Division to automate microscope motion and enable autonomous measurements of integrated circuits, including millimeter wave filters and calibration structures. The equipment specifications include a programmable high-stability microscope bridge mount with 50mm XY and 125mm Z motion capabilities, full software automation, and will replace an existing MT50 manual microscope bridge at the NIST-Boulder facility. Interested parties who believe they can satisfy the stated requirements must submit written responses demonstrating their capabilities by August 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. MST to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov. All responses will be evaluated solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be implemented for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not pursued, NIST estimates award issuance by August 17, 2025, and the procurement includes a three-year warranty covering labor, parts, and travel expenses.