Add the following language:

The instrument shall include at least a 1 year warranty and one option year warranty. The warranty must include unlimited telephone/e-mail support for questions regarding operation. All costs including parts, labor, travel, and other expenses necessary to repair the system will be borne solely by the contractor at no additional cost to the U.S. Government.

ACTION CODE: <PRESOL>

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 - Laboratory Equipment and Supplies

SUBJECT: High Finesse Near Infrared Wavelength Meter

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB620040-13-02546

RESPONSE DATE: May 14, 2013

CONTACT POINTS: Chris Ganey, Contract Specialist, 301-975-6205
Patrick Staines, Contracting Officer, 301-975-6335

DESCRIPTION:

The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Toptica Photonics, Inc. for the purchase of a High Finesse Near Infrared Wavelength Meter (WS6-200-IR2) under other than full and open competition by the authority of FAR subpart 13.106(b1): Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The proposed acquisition is for a high precision near infrared wavelength meter to be used in the energy research program of the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology. The wavelength meter will be integrated with unique CNST nanoscale chemical imaging instrumentation for increasing the instrument accuracy and sensitivity. Precise measurement of the properties of new nanostructured materials is a critical part of the CNST mission. In particular the near infrared wavelength meter will be used to calibrate tunable lasers used for nanomaterials spectroscopic characterization and, by providing an error function, to feedback-stabilize the lasers' wavelength output.

Toptica Photonics (USA representative of Highfinesse, the manufacturer) is the only company can provide a near infrared (from 1000 nm to 2250 nm) wavelength meter that measure the wavelength and line width of both pulsed (1 kHz) and continuous lasers with the required accuracy (± 200 MHz) and speed (500 Hz) while providing also an integrated proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller to generate an error signal to provide feedback to the laser being measured. No other types of equipment can satisfy the agency requirements.

Toptica is the only vendor that offers a Wavelength Meter that is commercially available that meets all of NIST's requirements. No other vendor can provide a system that meets NIST's requirements.

Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule.

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, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 12:00 p.m. (Eastern) on May 14, 2013. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected].

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 in the future.