High Resolution Sputter Coater

The National Research Council of Canada is procuring a high-resolution magnetron sputter coater to enhance the capabilities of its Construction Research Center’s Scanning Electron Microscopy facility, specifically to enable high-resolution imaging of non-conductive materials through the application of ultra-fine iridium coatings. The equipment must be a high-vacuum system capable of achieving a base pressure of no more than 1×10⁻⁵ mBar, equipped with an integrated turbo and backing pump, a current controller, and a thickness controller capable of automatic operation based on time or coating thickness. The sputter coater must feature a rotary, planetary, and tilting sample stage, a touch screen interface for operation and monitoring, and the ability to save preset or user-defined coating procedures. It must be bench-top sized, not exceeding 61 cm in depth and 65 cm in width, and compatible with standard North American 120V, 60 Hz power. The contract requires delivery of the coater along with two iridium targets, one platinum target, and specialized sample holders and spare crystals, all to be received by August 31, 2026, at the designated delivery address in Ottawa, Ontario. The system must be designed for end-user self-installation, with no vendor installation or training provided, and must be supported by a 12-month warranty. The contract follows a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, where compliance with all mandatory technical specifications is a pass/fail threshold; only offers that meet every requirement are eligible for award, and selection is determined solely by the lowest evaluated price. Proposals must be submitted electronically as two separate files—a Technical Offer and a Financial Offer—along with required declaration forms, with a total submission size not exceeding 10 MB. No physical submissions are accepted, and all entries must be sent via email to the designated NRC address no later than May 13, 2026. The contract is firm-fixed-price, with no options, renewals, or extensions. The supplier must comply with Canadian procurement regulations, including the Federal Contractors Program for Employment Equity, international sanctions obligations, and environmental packaging standards that require reusable, returnable, or recyclable materials, with exclusions for packaging tape. All deliverables are subject to inspection and acceptance by Canada at the delivery site, and the contractor must certify accuracy of invoices and compliance with integrity and procurement code requirements. No security clearances are needed, no