NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Nano-SMPS, DMA with CPC upgrades
Closed Special Notice Posted
This opportunity was awarded. See the award notice from .
- Solicitation number
- NB305000-25-00533
- Agency
-
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Place of performance
- Maryland 20899, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source a procurement for specialized scientific equipment for the Chemical Sciences Division. Specifically, NIST intends to negotiate directly with TSI Incorporated for the purchase of a Nano-SMPS and DMA with CPC upgrades. The procurement is authorized under 41 USC 3304(a)(1) and FAR 13.106-1(b), with the equipment intended to advance the CHIPS mission of developing new metrology techniques for advanced semiconductor device manufacturing. Market research conducted between February and April 2024, including web searches and reviews of federal procurement databases, determined that TSI is the sole manufacturer capable of meeting the government's specific requirements.
The Special Notice outlines a detailed equipment procurement with five distinct line items, including an electrostatic classifier, soft x-ray charge neutralizer, nano-DMA, water-based condensation particle counter, and controlling software. Contractors interested in responding must submit their capabilities in writing by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 13, 2025, via email to specified NIST contacts. The procurement falls under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. While the notice is not a formal solicitation, interested parties are invited to demonstrate their capability to meet the technical specifications. The government retains sole discretion in determining whether to proceed with a competitive procurement, and any information received will be evaluated solely to assess potential competitive sources. No solicitation package will be issued, and the notice serves as an informational communication about NIST's intent to sole source the equipment from TSI Incorporated.
Notice text
The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with TSI Incorporated, 500 CARDIGAN ROAD, SHOREVIEW, MN 55126 for the purchase of a Nano-SMPS, and DMA with CPC upgrades for an existing TSI SMPS to be utilized by NIST’s Chemical Sciences Division. The statutory authority for this acquisition is 41 USC 3304(a)(1); FAR 13.106-1(b).
***** Sole source determination is based on the need to acquire a compatible Nano-SMPS and upgrade of an existing system to advance the CHIPS mission of developing new metrology techniques for enabling the manufacture of advanced semiconductor devices.
Minimum Requirements:
Line Item 0001: Electrostatic classifier
Description: Control unit that handles sheath flow and voltage supply for the nano-DMA to allow for rapid scanning of the particle size distribution.
Quantity: 1
- Technical Specifications
- Plug-and-play compatible with existing TSI 3081L DMAs.
- Utilizes USB or ethernet to connect to a host computer.
- Utilize 120 VAC.
Line Item 0002: Soft x-ray charge neutralizer
Description: Ensures that particles reach an equilibrium charge distribution prior to classification by the nano-DMA
Quantity: 1
- Technical Specifications
- non-radioactive source for particle neutralization inducing deviations less than 5 % in particle sizing compared to radioactive neutralizers.
- safety key switch and external power button to prevent accidental activation.
- maximum particle number density of 107 cm-3 at flow rates up to 5 L min-1.
- Utilize 120 VAC.
Line Item 0003: nano-DMA
Description: Particle size selector for generating monomobile aerosol stream with particles of known size from a polydisperse aerosol input.
Quantity: 2
- Technical Specifications
- Capable of classifying particles in the range of 2 nm to 150 nm.
- Plug-and-play compatible with an existing 1 x TSI 3082 Electrostatic classifier.
Line Item 0004: Water-based condensation particle counter
Description: Particle counter for determining the number density of particles exiting the nano-DMA
Quantity: 2
- Technical Specifications
- Utilizes water as the working fluid.
- Default operation capable of counting 2.2 nm particles with ≥ 50 % efficiency that can be user-optimized to ≈ 1.6 nm.
- Single particle counting up to 2 × 105 cm-3.
- Plug-and-play compatible with an existing 1 x TSI 3082 Electrostatic classifier.
- Utilizes a USB or ethernet to connect to a host computer.
- Utilizes 120 VAC.
Line Item 0005: software for controlling the nano-SMPS
Description: Software for collecting and storing sample data from the nano-SMPS
Quantity: 1
- Technical Specifications
- Windows 10 64-bit compatible.
Market research was performed from February 2024 through April of 2024, including web searches, SAM searches, and searches of GSA to determine sources that could meet the Government’s requirements. Two sources sought notices were posted for the requirements, which yielded no capable responses. This market research determined that TSI is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the 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.
*****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 be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
*****No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Interested parties that believe they can satisfy the requirements listed above must identify their capability in writing before the response date of this notice. Only responses received by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 13, 2025 will be considered by the government. Responses shall be submitted via email to jenna.bortner@nist.gov or Donald.collie@nist.gov.
Contracting Office Address:
100 Bureau Drive
Bldg. 301, Mail Stop 1640
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Award: Nano-SMPS, DMA with CPC upgrades | Award Notice | |
| This notice | Special Notice |
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