Sole source procurement of a Shear Cell

FBO ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICESUBJECT: Sole source procurement of a Shear Cell. SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB642060-21-02539 RESPONSE DATE: 09/15/2021DESCRIPTION:The Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) owns and maintains an extensive suite of rheo-optical tools to characterize materials under deformation with controlled temperature and flow fields. There is a need to replace the Linkam Low-Temperature Optical Rheology System (NIST property number 595296). The device can control temperature and shear rate while allowing optical access for transmission, polarized, and phase-contrast microscopy.Sole Source justification is based on the following:The Polymer Additive Manufacturing and Rheology Project seeks to replace a NIST owned broken Linkam CSS450 optical shear cell (NIST property number 595296), which can no longer be repaired. In order to maintain compatibility with the

existing microscope and accessories, and to maintain continuity of experiments, a sole source award is required to replace the damaged CSS450 with an exact replacement CSS450. Replacing with a different system will incur additional cost in both new microscopy equipment and lost staff time developing new procedures, recreating experiments, and integrating a new system. The loss of previous experimental procedures would be critical to the NIST mission.        This system shall be procured through the Linkam’s sole authorized reseller, McCrone Microscopes & Accessories.NAICS code for this requirement will be 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size 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 09/15/2021 will be considered by the Government.Inquiry POCsErik.Fycklund@nist.gov   Primary Donald.Graham @nist.gov SecondaryNational Institutes of Standards and Technologies NIST Acquisition Management Division (AMD)100 Bureau Dr. Mail Stop 1640Gaithersburg, MD. 20899-1640