Optically Pumped Potassium Magnetometers

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Acquisition Management Division (AMD)
Sources Sought for Commercial Item / Services Purchase(s)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can offer two Optically Pumped Potassium Magnetometers.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor shall meet the following technical requirements:
Operates using optically pumped Potassium to minimize spectral line errors.
A sampling rates up to 20 Hz
Built in a sealed package suitable for transport and measurements in the field over a temperature range of -40 C to +55 C. Operates over a humidity range of 0 to 100%.
The magnetometer shall include a control module and power supply as well as the software for processing the data.
Sensitivity .0002 nanoTesla(nT) at 1 Hz
Resolution 0.0001 nT
Absolute Accuracy +/- 0.1 nT
Range 15,000 to 120,000 nT
Sample Rates 1, 5, 10, 20 Hz
Quantity 2 each
INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: The unites will be inspected and calibrated at NIST to insure they meet the above specifications. The Government Acceptance will take two weeks for the Inspection. The completion date is 09/23/2019. The Contractor shall deliver prior to this date to provide NIST adequate time for Government Acceptance. If the Contractor determines that more time is required for Government Acceptance, the Contractor shall notify the CO immediately requesting a time extension. The order cannot be modified after the completion date.

This announcement is not a Request for Quotation (RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available now. The purpose of this sources-sought is to identify organizations with the requisite qualifications to meet the requirements as stated herein. After results of this market research are obtained, analyzed and compared with NIST's minimum requirement(s). NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract.

If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then this acquisition may be solicited as a small business set aside. NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses. This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334519, Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 500 hundred employees. The specific purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is to determine if there are small businesses, within the parameters identified above, that can provide the product(s) identified.

Interested organizations that believe they can meet the requirement(s) should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to five (5) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:

a) Name and DUNS or CAGE Code of organization that will provide the requirement.
Spec sheets and/or examples of similar requirements previously provided.
b) Lead time in providing the requirement after receipt of order.
c) Relevant information that is not listed above which the Government may consider in developing its minimum requirements and finalizing market research.

Any proprietary information should be clearly marked. Only electronic statements will be accepted. All responses to this Sources Sought shall be submitted via email by the required Response Date to Angela Hitt at Angela.Hitt@nist.gov. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information or comments received from potential sources resulting from this Sources Sought. This is not a Request for Information. The Government will not provide a response to questions regarding this project as a part of this Sources Sought.

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