Solicitation - Zero Boiloff Cryostat

The National Institute of Standards and Technology seeks a single zero boiloff cryostat instrument via Request for Quotation, with quotations due July 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM MDT and questions due July 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM MDT. The procurement is unrestricted with no set-aside.

Place of performance is Boulder, Colorado. The cryostat must be designed for testing superconducting chips at 4 K in liquid helium, maintain between 5–10 liters of liquid helium in steady state under a 200 mW heat dissipation load, feature a minimum 200 mm depth of liquid helium over a diameter greater than 35 mm, and recover to steady state within 1.5 hours after 1 liter of liquid helium boils off during probe cooldown. The system must include a load-lock airlock with a standard 3-inch sanitary tri-clover flange to accommodate the NIST probe and must incorporate a heater and temperature controller for steady-state operation. No prototypes, demonstration models, used, or refurbished instruments will be considered. Quotations must be submitted electronically to Daniel.kent@nist.gov in three volumes: Technical Quotation (addressing technical capability, country of origin, manufacturer authorization, delivery confirmation, and installation/training/warranty capabilities); Price Quotation (firm-fixed price including all shipping and delivery costs); and Terms and Conditions acceptance. Award shall be made to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quotation from a responsible quoter. All quoters must maintain active SAM.Gov registration at submission, during performance, and through final payment. The NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing; PSC is 6640, Laboratory Equipment and Supplies. Funds are not presently available; the Government reserves the right not to award and may cancel without obligation to reimburse quoters for costs incurred.