NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: One (1) Helium Gas Recovery & Liquefier System for Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT)

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 Quantum Technology Corp; 3836 Queens Way Unit 4, Squamish, BC, VB oV2, Canada for the purchase of one (1) helium gas recovery & liquefier system for electron beam ion trap (EBIT) to be utilized by NIST’s Physical Measurements Laboratory (PML). 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 one (1) helium gas recovery & liquefier system for EBIT. The system will be utilized with a NIST owned superconductive magnet that was designed and custom-built over 30 years ago. This system will be used to cool the magnet during operation for a three-day experimental campaign, which typically consumes 250 liters of liquid helium supplied with a transfer Dewar.  In order to meet this consumption rate, the helium recovery system must be able to liquify at a minimum rate of 60 liters a day. The proposed system must also be capable of fitting within the EBIT facilities existing location of roughly 11 feet by 13 feet with 11 feet of vertical space to the ceiling. Lastly the system needs to integrate with the operation of the existing superconductive magnet via the helium gas compressor being able to handle the high initial boil-off during cool down of the superconductive magnet from 77 Kelvin, typically boiling off 30 liters during the first hour. Thereafter, the steady-state LHe boil-off is about 3 liters per hour and requires a purifier to remove contaminants from the He boil-off before liquefaction. 

Acquiring an instrument that does not meet these requirements will prevent NIST from being able to utilize the cooling system for the magnet and will result in failure of EBIT experiments.

Market research methods including a sources-sought notice posted on beta.SAM (i.e. AMD-SS-20-15) indicated that Quantum Technology Corp. is the sole manufacturer and distributor of a product that meets this requirement.

*****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 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on May 27, 2020 will be considered by the government.  Responses shall be submitted via email to tracy.bisson@nist.gov or adam.powell@nist.gov