This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6- Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a separate written solicitation document will not be issued. 

This solicitation is being issued under the authority of FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures.
This solicitation is a Request for Quotations (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2019-05, effective 08/13/2019.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. This acquisition will be competed as a Total Small Business Set-aside.

The Biomaterials Group provides measurement methods, standards, data, and fundamental understanding that provide specific, quantitative, and unambiguous information about interactions between materials and biological systems, facilitating application of materials in biotechnology with emphasis on the medical and dental industries, to support development of polymer materials with improved performance and with quantifiable interaction with cells and tissue.

The Group has a project involving development of a new method for mid-IR spectroscopy of protein and water content monitoring. This new technique requires a fast, tunable infrared (IR) laser based on quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology for high sensitivity. This new technique directly supports NIST's mission to advance measurement science to provide unprecedented information about the higher order structure of biomolecules and stability of biopharmaceutical products; to accelerate competitiveness of biosciences and health; and to assist academic, industrial and regulatory stake holders.