The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to procure on a sole source basis and
under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) with FEI Company, 5350 NE Dawson Creek Drive, Hillsboro,
OR 97124, maintenance and repair services for a QUANTA 200 FEG Microsopic System using simplified
acquisition procedures. This unique instrument is composed of FEI property parts, and the implemental
solutions are only known to the manufacturer of the equipment. This FEI's instrument makes it possible
for NIST to achieve an unprecedented resolution, imaging and dimensional measurements of samples of
nano-scale. FEI is the developer of the proprietory software that operates the instrument and they
are the only source for operating software upgrades and miantenance.
The sole source procurement of the Service Contract from FEI in this case is justified because the parts
and services are only available from FEI, and a sole source procurement is requested in an expeditious
manner.
Bid Protests Not Available