Load Cells for Structural Testing

This is a request for a Firm Fixed Price quotation for commercial products. This solicitation is issued in accordance with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the RFO. 

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334519 - Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 600 Employees. This is an unrestricted competition. Both small businesses and other than small businesses under the applicable size standard are eligible to respond.  

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS

Background
The Structures Group in the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) performs research to enhance the ability of structures in the United States to 1) resist damage from various hazards (e.g., blast, wind, and seismic hazards) and 2) recover from and adapt to hazards that result in damage. To this end, the Structures Group is expanding upon a recently completed experimental research effort that focused on mitigating disproportionate collapse of buildings in the United States. The final phase of that effort involved experimentally testing precast concrete beam-column connection assemblies produced at 5/8 scale and that featured novel connection concepts developed by NIST researchers in collaboration with an industry review committee of Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) members. These assemblies were subjected to static pushdown testing that simulated a column-removal scenario for disproportionate collapse applications. The test results showed that the connection concepts were viable for use in precast concrete construction to achieve robust performance against disproportionate collapse.

The current experimental research effort involves structural testing of full-scale precast concrete beam-column connection assemblies under forces that simulate those imposed by earthquakes. The assemblies will feature the previously tested connection concepts to establish whether these connections can perform adequately under various hazards acting asynchronously.

Objectives
The purpose of this acquisition is to procure load washers for use in experimental testing of full-scale precast concrete beam-column connection assemblies. These tests aim to quantify the performance of the novel precast concrete connection concepts that are featured in each assembly.

Scope of Work 
Please see the attached Requirements Document.
 

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE / DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall deliver all requirements within nine (9) weeks after receipt of order. All required items shall be delivered FOB Destination.
 

CONTRACT TYPE & PAYMENT TERMS
A firm fixed price purchase order is anticipated.

APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES
Please see the attached document for applicable provisions and clauses.

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION April 2026):

QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD

CAR 1352.215-73 INQUIRIES (APR 2010):
 

Quoters must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Mr. Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Officer, at lauren.roller@nist.gov Questions must be received by or before Tuesday July 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. 

(End of Provision)

DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS

All quotations must be submitted via email to Mr. Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Officer, at lauren.roller@nist.gov. Submission must be received not later than Tuesday July 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.

Note: Quoters must have an active registration at www.SAM.gov at time of offer submission to be considered for award. “ID Assigned” is not acceptable; registration must be “Active.”

Please reference the RFQ number in the subject line of all email communications. Quotations shall not be deemed received by the Government unless the quotation is received in the e-mail inboxes set forth above by the required date and time.

INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS

Quotations shall be submitted electronically via email and shall consist of two volumes as detailed below. Each quotation volume shall include the Quoter’s name, System for Award Management Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and point of contact information in a cover page, header/footer, or other easily identified location.

The Quoter’s quotation shall be clearly divided into the following distinct volumes:

Volume I – Technical Quotation

Volume II – Price Quotation

Volume I: Technical Response

The Quoter shall submit one (1) copy of their technical response electronically via E-mail to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer identified above. The technical response shall not exceed five (5) single-spaced, single sided pages. Text shall be no less than 12-point font in read-only Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF format. The technical quotation shall address the following:

1. Technical description and/or product literature.  Quoters shall include the manufacturer, make and model of the quoted product(s), manufacturer sales literature, or other product literature that CLEARLY DOCUMENTS that the quoted products meet or exceed all specifications outlined in the Statement of Requirements. The quoter is responsible for ensuring the submitted documentation clearly addresses all specifications and requirements. The quoter must not simply state they will meet or exceed the requirement; evidence must be provided.
2. Country of origin of all manufactured end products quoted
3. If applicable, evidence that the quoter is authorized by the manufacturer to sell the item(s) in the quotation.
4. Confirmation of the quoter’s ability to meet the required delivery terms.
5. Confirmation of the quoter’s ability to meet warranty requirements.

Volume II: Price Quotation

The quoter shall submit one (1) copy of their price quotation electronically via E-mail to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer identified above. The price quotation shall address, at minimum, the following information:

1. The solicitation number
2. The name, phone number, and email address of the quoter's/contractor’s point of contact;
3. Unique Entity Identifier # for quoter's/contractor’s active SAM.Gov registration.
4. A firm fixed price for each required line item, including a unit price and total amount where applicable, and the aggregate quoted firm fixed price for the requirement.
5. FOB Destination Shipping and Delivery costs must be included in the quotation either as a separate line item or contained in the total price of the quote. The quotation shall include a total firm fixed price for the requirement that includes all shipping/delivery costs
6. Any applicable discount terms.

Quoters that are proposing products manufactured outside of the United States must identify any other or unknown charges that may be applicable to the sale of these products as a separate line item (CLIN 0002- Other transportation related charges to deliver to the US). This price element may be listed as part of the cost of the product or as a sub-total element but must be clearly identified. This price element must only apply to the total value of the goods identified for customs processing. Only include the country of origin and the tariff percentage currently in place or the expected amount at time of delivery for that country.  Price quotes shall clearly identify the relevant tariffs in terms of percentage and total cost. If there are multiple countries of origins and associated tariffs, identify each separately.

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION Jan 2026)

1. Evaluation factors. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Quoter whose quotation, conforming to the solicitation, is the lowest price technically acceptable quotation.

The Government intends to award a single firm fixed price purchase order (PO) from this solicitation utilizing FAR part 12 of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul. The Government reserves the right not to award a PO and to make an award based solely upon initial quotes.

Basis for Award: 

This requirement will be evaluated on the basis of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Award will be made to the Quoter who submits a technically acceptable quotation at the lowest price amongst competitive quotations. A quotation will be determined technically acceptable if it meets the following criteria:
 

(1) Technical Capability: The Quoter must indicate in its quotation the ability to provide all minimum requirements identified in the Requirements document, as well as warranty requirements.

(2) Schedule: The Quoter must indicate in its quotation the ability to meet the delivery requirements of 9 weeks ARO. Additionally, delivery must clearly be on an F.O.B Destination (or equivalent INCO Terms) basis and inclusive of all costs associated with delivery to NIST.

A quoter's failure to address any factor may be considered indicative of the quoter's lack of understanding of the Government's requirements and may result in the offer being determined unacceptable.