Sources Sought Notice for a Mid-Size Rotary Riffler

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to procure a Mid-Size Rotary Riffler for its Production Systems Group's additive manufacturing research. The equipment must be specifically designed to handle metal AM powders with precise technical specifications, including maximum external dimensions of 36" tall x 24" wide x 24" long, weight under 50 kg, and capability to divide samples into 10 sections of 250 cm3 each. NIST is seeking potential vendors to provide comprehensive information about their equipment, including manufacturer details, model numbers, technical specifications, performance capabilities, manufacturing location, and service offerings. Responses are limited to 5 pages and must be submitted electronically by June 10, 2025, with questions also due by that date. The agency emphasizes that this sources sought notice is a market research exercise and does not guarantee a future solicitation or contract award.

There are no specific set-aside designations for this procurement, and no incumbent contractors are mentioned in the notice. The sources sought notice does not provide explicit details about potential award values or precise budget ranges for the rotary riffler. Technical requirements include specific parameters such as material feed size under 10 mm, rotation speed between 100-120 RPM, and accuracy exceeding 99%. The procurement is part of NIST's broader additive manufacturing research efforts, suggesting this equipment will play a critical role in their ongoing scientific and technological investigations. While the notice is a preliminary market research step, it indicates NIST's intent to potentially issue a formal solicitation for this specialized scientific equipment in the future.