On-Wafer Probes
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- NB6720302501820
- Agency
- National Institute of Standards and Technology Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334515 Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals
- Place of performance
- Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Lia M Arthofer lia.arthofer@nist.gov (301) 975-2762
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a special notice announcing its intent to negotiate a sole source contract with FormFactor, Inc. of Livermore, California for specialized on-wafer probes. The procurement falls under NAICS code 334515 for instrument manufacturing and testing equipment, with a size standard of 750 employees. NIST plans to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order for four different types of high-frequency probes: 1.0 mm coaxial probes operating from DC to 110 GHz, and three varieties of waveguide probes (WR6.5, WR5.1, and WR4.3) operating at progressively higher frequency bands up to 260 GHz. Each probe type requires specific technical specifications including 50 μm GSG tip configurations and maximum 2.0 dB insertion loss. The agency expects to issue the award in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025.
The purpose of this special notice is to notify potential vendors of NIST's intent to use sole source procurement procedures while allowing interested parties to demonstrate their capabilities to fulfill the technical requirements. Any contractors believing they can meet the stringent specifications must submit written responses by June 30, 2025, to lia.arthofer@nist.gov. NIST justifies the sole source approach by stating that market research identified FormFactor, Inc. as the only vendor capable of providing commercial on-wafer probes meeting the precise frequency band and technical requirements. The agency emphasizes that alternative probes not meeting these exact specifications would compromise accuracy and potentially cause the project to fail, making the specialized nature of these instruments critical to NIST's research objectives. This notice serves as a market survey rather than a formal solicitation, with responses used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be implemented.
Notice text
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with FormFactor, Inc. located in Livermore, California on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for On-Wafer Probes in accordance with the specifications document associated with this notice.
Specific Requirements are as follows:
Item 0001: 1.0 mm Coaxial Probes, Quantity: 3 each
Specifications: 1.1, Must operate from DC to 110 GHz, have a 50 um GSG tip configuration, have a maximum of 2.0 dB insertion loss.
Item 0002: WR6.5 Waveguide Probes, Quantity: 3 each
Specifications: 2.1, Must operate in the WR6.5 band from 110 GHz to 170 GHz, have a 50 um GSG tip configuration, integrate a bias tee, have a maximum of 2.0 dB insertion loss, body type short.
Item 0003: WR5.1 Waveguide Probes, Quantity: 3 each
Specifications: 3.1, Must operate in the WR5.1 band from 140 GHz to 220 GHz, have a 50 um GSG tip configuration, integrate a bias tee, have a maximum of 2.0 dB insertion loss, body type short.
Item 0004: WR4.3 Waveguide Process, Quantity: 3 each
Specifications: 4.1, Must operate in the WR4.3 band from 170 GHz to 260 GHz, have a 50 um GSG tip configuration, integrate a bias tee, have a maximum of 2.0 dB insertion loss, body type short.
This shall be provided and accomplished in accordance with these specifications.
NAICS Code is 334515 – Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, with a Size Standard of 750 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to FormFactor, Inc. for this requirement.
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 will be issued 4th Quarter of FY25. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to lia.arthofer@Nist.gov . All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to lia.arthofer@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting.
JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION:
Market research resulted in FormFactor, Inc. being the only vendor to provide commercial on-wafer probes consistent with the technical specification requirements provided herein. On-Wafer Probes must be fabricated to the desired frequency bands (WR6.5, WR5.1, WR4.3, and 1.0 mm) to meet the specific requirements for each probe. Other on-wafer probes that do not meet these specifications would be less accurate than what is required to proceed with the project, and NIST would have to attempt to develop something which would cause unreasonable costs, delays and lead to the project potentially failing or being cancelled.
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| On-Wafer Probes | Special Notice | |
| On-Wafer Probes | Pre-Solicitation |
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