NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Magnicon GmbH-Cryogenic Current Comparator Probe

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Magnicon GmbH located in Germany on a sole source basis for a Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) Probe. The statutory authority for this acquisition is 41 USC 3304(a)(1), as implemented under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901.

NIST Division 684 CCC probe and winding selection system to enable full use of the Magnicon CCC Electronics Drive for arbitrary resistance ratios, including use with QHR standard. The system must be able to provide continuous, overlapping ranges of resistance or current calibration provided by a set of CCC windings having a binary-scale build-up between 1 and 2048 inclusive.  “Continuous and overlapping ranges” are specified as a set of measurement configurations that will allow a resistor of any value between 0.01 Ohm and 1 MOhm to be calibrated directly against another resistor of any value within a factor of 200 larger or smaller, as long as that value falls also within the same range. This probe and hardware must be operationally compatible with the wideband feedback requirements of the original CCC Electronics, which were one of the major considerations in the purchase of the original CCC Electronics system. This requires a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) sensor to be used to detect the current signal to be generated by the shielded CCC winding. The original system purchase of the CCC Electronics included the SQUID Magnetometer, SQUID sensor, and associated hardware.

Based on the Government’s market research, only Magnicon GmbH can provide a commercially available product that meets the Governments minimum requirements:

Magnicon GmbH is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the commercial equipment that meets the required minimum specifications.  

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Magnicon GmbH for this requirement.

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.  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 may be issued by May 28, 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.