CHIPS R&D Compact Mobile Closed-Cycle Cryostat - Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source

***THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE***

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a large sample stage cryostat. If no alternate sources are identified, the Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to Attocube Systems GMBH, Eglfinger Weg 2, Haar, 85540, Germany (UEI: GUM6Q15FDTG4) under the authority of FAR 12.102(b) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Quantum Measurement Division (QMD) in the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) develops novel spectroscopic measurement techniques to probe key physicochemical properties of low dimensional, advanced quantum materials that will enable future technologies to move past conventional digital computing. Determining the fundamental processes of quasiparticles and related charge migration and phase change phenomena are key aspects of work performed in QMD.

As part of the CHIPS Act, researchers from NIST are actively pursuing a comprehensive program in metrology research and development aimed at bolstering the U.S. semiconductor industry. A pivotal aspect of their strategic objectives is outlined in one of the seven Grand Challenges—specifically, Grand Challenge 1. This challenge focuses on enhancing metrology tools and measurement science dedicated to assessing the Purity, Properties, and Provenance of materials, which are critical for advancing the semiconductor sector.
 

NIST has a need for a Compact Mobile Closed-Cycle Cryostat that meets or exceeds the following draft minimum specifications:

Line Item 0001:

Description:  Compact mobile closed-cycle cryostat for combined optical spectroscopy and electrical measurements

Quantity: 1

1. Self-contained compact optical cryostat with integrated optical breadboard.
   1. Vacuum pump and all necessary accessories included
2. System must be able to be rolled by a single individual into and out of spectrometer location
3. Water cooled compressor with helium lines longer than 12 M in order to be separated from experiment
4. Fully automated temperature control (vacuum, cooldown/warmup, T

control)

1. 1. Cool down time: < 5 h (to reach 5 K)
2. Sample:
   1. Environment: cryogenic vacuum
   2. Space (diameter): > 70 mm
   3. Exchange: easy access via removal of vacuum shroud
   4. Ultra-low vibrations at cold plate: < 7 nm
   5. Temperature range:  < 4 K  to  > 300 K
      1. Temperature stability: < 20 mK
   6. > 30 electrical contacts into sample area required
3. Sample positioners

1. Close loop piezo control of position for X and Y positioning of sample beneath objective (detailed below)

Line Item 0002:

Description:  Incorporated low temperature objective

Quantity: 1

1. High magnification (50 X) apochromatic objective to operate within a low temperature environment (down to 4 K)
   1. Maximum response to optical excitation at 532 nm
   2. Clear aperture > 4.5 mm
   3. Focal length f > 2.5 mm
   4. Numerical Aperture NA > 0.8
   5. Working distance WD > 0.6 mm
2. Close loop piezo control of objective position in Z positioning

NIST conducted market research from March 2026 to May 2026 by speaking with colleagues, performing internet searches, attending conferences, and speaking with vendors to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements.  The results of that market research revealed that only Attocube Systems GMBH (UEI: GUM6Q15FDTG4) appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response.  Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).
• Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.
• Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.

• Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why.  Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.
• For the NAICS code
• Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
• If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement. 

• If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.
• Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.
• Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section. 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received within 5 days of the initial posting.  Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future. 

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. 

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice. 

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!