Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Upgrade of NIST Multi-collector ICP-MS Instrument

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with: Spectro Analytical Instruments, Inc., 50 Fordham RD, Wilmington, MA 01887-2177 The sole source justification is based on the following: The Inorganic Chemical Metrology Group (ICMG) of the Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) of the Materials Measurement Laboratory (MML) has significant research efforts in the field of isotope metrology. Major foci include the production of elemental isotopic reference material solutions (RM 8000 Series), production of natural matrix standard reference materials (SRMs) for stable isotope metrology and climate research, participation in international key comparisons for isotopic measurements, postdoctoral training in isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and environmental and food security research programs involving isotopic measurements of toxic elements. Multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass

spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) is the major instrument platform that supports this work. The ICMG is seeking to upgrade an existing Nu Plasma 2 multi-collector ICP-MS to the next generation instrument, a Nu Plasma 3 multi-collector ICP-MS and receive service support on the equipment. Upgrading this invested equipment will enhance the group’s measurement capabilities and help grow and support the existing isotope metrology programs within CSD. The upgraded instrument will improve detection sensitivity and increase isotope ratio measurement precision. Extensive market research has concluded that the Nu Instruments Ltd are the only company with the necessary expertise and resources required to provide service support for the mass spectrometers that they design and manufacture. The instrument requiring upgrade was designed and installed by Nu Instruments Ltd and they are the only responsible source capable of performing the necessary instrument upgrades, qualifying the upgraded instrument, and performing the requisite training post upgrade. All purchases for Nu Instruments, Ltd. made from United States territories for parts, service contracts, and Nu multi-collector instrument upgrades are processed through SPECTRO Analytical Instruments. The MML/CSD Isotope Metrology Programs will be adversely affected if the upgrade does not occur. Affected programs include the isotopic solution reference material (RM) program (RM 8000 series), the environmental and food security programs within CSD, NRC postdoctoral projects and NMI-related competence demonstrations through international key comparisons and interlaboratory comparison exercises. Other vendors identified during market research would not service or upgrade a competitor’s equipment or have the working knowledge in multicollector ICP-MS. Given these facts, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments. is the only source reasonably available to provide the required equipment. The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a size standard of 1000 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 1:00 pm EST March 28, 2023 will be considered by the Government. Responses must be submitted via email to the Government point of contacts listed below: 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 normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.