Ultraviolet (UC) cathodoluminescence (CL) detection system upgrade to existing spectrometer- Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively acquire Ultraviolet (UV) Cathodoluminescence (CL) Detection System.

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

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Materials Science and Engineering Division (MSED) requires an ultraviolet (UV) cathodoluminescence (CL) detection system to be an attachment of a preexisting spectrometer. The UV CL detection system sought here will extend the spectrometer's capability by analyzing and resolving spatially photon emissions in a wavelength range from 160 nm to 860 nm as a result of charge-carrier relaxations in ultrawide and wide bandgap materials immediately after near-atomic-scale excitations imposed by a scanning electron beam. The analysis will be achieved through photon dispersion, selection, and detection through a series of components that include but are not limited to a high-efficiency single-pixel detector, such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT), paired with a selection of gratings, both optimized for the UV spectral range and compatible with a preexisting spectrometer. Horiba Instruments Inc manufactured and calibrated the preexisting spectrometer and gratings for photon dispersion and detection. The housing of the PMT must be compatible with preexisting wavelength selecting slit and grating turrets of the spectrometer. The photon-counting module and software control for gain setting must provide full compatibility with the current software and control PC. Additionally, NIST has existing code written to interface with the preexisting Horiba Instruments spectrometer and Electron Multiplying Charge-Coupled Devices (EMCCDs). The compatibility of the UV CL system's API is critical to add the new functionalities to the current code.

NIST conducted market research in February 2024 to August 2024 to determine what sources could potentially meet NIST’s minimum requirements. This included searches on GSA, Unicor, Thomas Register, System for Award Management (SAM); surveying vendor websites; speaking with subject matter experts inside NIST. The results of market research revealed that only Horiba Instruments Inc (UEI: LQXLRJ9V5Z75) appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements.

However, any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number in https://sam.gov; details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements; whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied. 

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Only responses received by the offers due date and time of this notice will be considered by the government. Responses shall be submitted via email to nina.lin@nist.gov.