Spectro2Guide Handheld Color and Gloss Spectrophotometer

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE
Spectro2Guide Handheld Color and Gloss Spectrophotometer

Announcement Type: Special Notice
Announcement Number: NIST-NOI-25-7301803
Subject: Spectro2Guide Handheld Color and Gloss Spectrophotometer
 

Introduction
This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with BYK USA, Inc. (UEI: H1LXJLJ8H849) located at 9104 Guilford Road, Columbia, MD 21046-2680. The purchase order will be for acquisition of a Spectro2Guide Handheld Color and Gloss Spectrophotometer. Delivery will be required within six weeks after contractor receipt of order.

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106(b)(1) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

Description
The Contractor shall provide one (1) BYK Spectro2Guide Color Control Handheld d/8 Spectrophotometer in accordance with the specifications identified below.

1. Technical Specifications

   1. d/8o measuring geometry spin (specular included)
   2. Capability of measuring gloss and color hue in one unit, independent of temperature
   3. Capability of measuring a sample size of 19 mm diameter or smaller
   4. Capability of storing a minimum of 1500 standards and 999 samples
   5. Utilization of LEDs as the light source of the instrument
   6. Temperature independent color and gloss data
   7. Minimum reproducibility tolerances of 0.10 delta E on 12 BCRA tiles.
   8. Minimum repeatability tolerances of 0.01 delta E, 10 consecutive measurements on white calibration tile.
   9. Portable
   10. Docking Station and Software (with at least one license) for computer interfacing
        
2. Warranty Specifications
   1. Minimum 2-year warranty on instrument
   2. Minimum 10-year warranty on the light source in the instrument. 
       

Sole Source Determination
The sole source determination is based on the following:
 

The NIST IMG uses a BYK Spectro2Guide Color Control Handheld d/8 Spectrophotometer to obtain color and gloss measurements for ongoing research regarding semiconductor metrology, circular economy polymer degradation, and PV reliability. The existing spectrophotometer is reaching the end of its useful life and must be replaced.

For the purposes of compatibility with existing research methods and reliable comparison of results with existing data, it is necessary to obtain an identical replacement. NIST's project protocols have been designed around the features of the proprietary BYK Spectro2Guide Color Control Handheld d/8 Spectrophotometer. Further, the BYK Spectro2Guide Color Control Handheld d/8 Spectrophotometer is the only spectrophotometer than can measure both color hue and gloss in a single unit, independent of temperate, and measure a sample size of 19mm diameter or less. NIST requires each of these features for its on-going research efforts. The BYK Spectro2Guide Color Control Handheld d/8 Spectrophotometer is therefore the only product capable of meeting the Government's requirements.

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at Lauren.Roller@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to Lauren.Roller@nist.gov so that they are received no later than August 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor (SAM) Universal Entity Identification (UEI)
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement