CMOS Microelectrode Array System

The solicitation for the CMOS Microelectrode Array System, identified by number 1333ND26QNB680354, is issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the Department of Commerce, with performance and delivery centered at its Gaithersburg, Maryland facility. The contract requires the delivery of a high-density microelectrode array system including 80 CMOS microelectrode array sensor inserts, a control computer with specialized software, an operations and maintenance manual, and training for up to two NIST personnel. The system must support at least 1,000 simultaneous recording channels and 30 stimulation channels, maintain a noise floor of no more than 10 µV RMS (with a preference for 3.0 µV RMS), achieve sampling rates of at least 20 kHz, and enable electrode reconfiguration in no more than 100 ms—ideally within 10 ms. All deliverables must be new, shipped in original manufacturer packaging, and conform to strict technical specifications including electrode dimensions, surface roughness, and use of biocompatible materials like PEDOT or platinum-black. The system must also support non-proprietary HDF5 data formats with MATLAB and Python APIs. Evaluation will be based on a best-value trade-off, prioritizing Technical Capability above all else, followed by Prior Demonstrated Experience, with Price considered only if the offeror achieves at least “Some Confidence” in both non-price factors. A “Low Confidence” rating on either of the first two factors renders an offeror ineligible. Technical Capability is assessed through specific performance benchmarks tied to CLINs, including software functionality for neurite reconstruction and action potential velocity measurement, ultra-fast reconfiguration speed, and available computing interfaces with minimum USB and PCIe specifications. The period of performance is no more than eight weeks following award, with F.O.B. Destination delivery to NIST’s Shipping and Receiving facility at Building 301, Gaithersburg, MD, and final inspection and acceptance occurring at Building 225. Proposals must be submitted electronically by email by July 30, 2026, divided into four distinct volumes, and must adhere to NIST-specific contract clauses including deviations related to child labor, trafficking, equal opportunity, DEI, and security prohibitions. Subcontracting policies, accelerated payments to small businesses, and electronic invoicing via the Treasury’s IPP platform are required, along with