Notice of Intent to Sole Source: VASP Perpetual Software Licenses

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with the Materials Design Inc., 12121 Scripps Summit DR, STE 160, San Diego, CA 92131, for the purchase of the Upgrade of an existing Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) Perpetual Software License for 12 users and an option for a license for an additional six (6) users.  The sole source justification is based on the following:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Materials Science and Engineering Division (MSED) provides the measurement science, standards, technology, and data required to support the nation’s need to design, develop, manufacture, and use materials. In partnership with U.S. industry, government agencies, and scientific institutions, the Division performs fundamental and applied research to enable those engaged in the materials science and engineering enterprise to adopt new materials and incorporate them into improved, successful products that solve problems in areas such as energy, electronics, transportation, and the environment. The ability to model microstructure evolution in these materials and processes is essential to developing and using new materials and processes.  MSED requires the ability to calculate electronic structures for solids, surfaces, and interfaces using first-principles methods.  These calculations are then used to predict a wide range of atomistic properties used as inputs for higher-level property and structure models. NIST uses the VASP software to perform these calculations.  

This is considered a sole source to Materials Design, Inc. because, to the best of the NIST’s knowledge, based on market research, Materials Design, Inc. is the only known source that can provide this type of supply. No known potential alternate sources exist that could satisfy NIST's requirement. Materials Design Inc. is the sole distributor in the USA for the VASP license software owned by VASP Software GMBH, as supported by documentation provided by the vendor.

Given these facts, Materials Design Inc. is the only reasonably available source to fulfill the requirement. The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed-Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 541511—Custom Computer Programming Services, with a size standard of $34.0M.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 10:00 AM EST on September 3, 2024, will be considered by the Government. Responses must be submitted via email to the Government point of contact listed below.

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.