Tender Description
Notice type: Special Notice · NAICS 334516 · Place of performance: Gaithersburg, MD 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 the Polymer Characterization SA (Polymer Char), Calle Gustave Eiffel (Valencia Technology Park), 8 Paterna, 46980 ESP. The sole source justification is based on the following: The Material Measurement Laboratory’s Materials Science & Engineering Division (MSED) conducts research on the development of polyolefin Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), which requires measurement of the polymers’ molar mass, molar mass distribution, and branching content. To achieve this, in 2012 the government purchased a high-temperature size-exclusion chromatography instrument from Polymer Char, model GPC-IR. One of the detectors was an IR 4 detector, capable of measuring methyl content with a limit of detection of 10 methyls/1000 total carbons, allowing us to determine short chain branch content of polyethylenes. In the last decade, technology to measure the limit of detection has improved and the state of the art in high temperature, flow through detection of alkyl and other chemical group functionality has improved greatly. This requirement is for the delivery of one High-Temperature Flow Through Infrared Detector for High Temperature Size Exclusion Chromatography Instrument. Delivery, installation, training, and warranty shall also be included. Polymer Char is the only vendor identified through extensive market research that offers a system that meets NIST specifications. NIST needs to maintain state-of-the-art capabilities for standards certifications, texting, and polymer separations research, we seek to replace our current IR 4 detector with once capable of 10x greater sensitivity. The IR 4 detector needs to be backward compatible with our existing Polymer Char GPC-IR instrument (hardware and software) and must be able to fit within the current instrument body (which will ensure proper temperature equilibration). As such, Polymer Char is the only company that makes an IR 4 detector that can meet the Government's requirement and ensure compatibility with our existing Char GPC-IR. Polymer Char is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the required IR 6 detector. Given these facts, Polymer Char, is the only source reasonably available to fulfill this requirement. 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 1,000 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 September 15, 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.
- Country
- United States
- Published
- 08 Sept 2023
- Closing date
- 15 Sept 2023
- Procedure
- Special Notice