The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Coherent Laser Group, of Santa Clara, California, for acquisition of one (1) Base Upgrade Kit Femto to Dual. The Upgrade Laser System will be used by the NIST Polymers Division at NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland.***Sole source determination is based on the need to covert an existing Mira-F (Femto) to a Mira-P (Pico). The upgraded laser system is part of a Coherent anti-Strokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) microscope, which is to be used for in-situ, non-invasive studies of cell growth and tissue generation in tissue scaffolds for regenerative medicine. NIST specifications is that the Mira Oscillator be modified so that: 1) It can produce laser pulses in either of the ranges 90 to 200 fs, or 1to 3 ps with minimal effort in changing from one range to another. One half to one days work is acceptable for the change from femto to pico, or vice versa; 2) There is no loss of output power due to modifications performed on the laser; and 3) There is no additional chirp imparted to the femtosecond pulses due to modifications to the laser. Coherent Laser Group is the only known source that can provide this upgrade with all required specifications.***Delivery is required within 60 days or less after receipt of order (ARO) and shall be made FOB destination.***The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, and the size standard is 500 Employees.***No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, responses received by April 12, 2004, will be considered by the Government. 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. *****

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