NB731040-13-02094 Atomic Force Microscope System

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF FAR SUBPART 13.5 TEST PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-66. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516 with a small business size standard of 500 employees. This acquisition is being procured using full and open competition. Background The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Engineering Lab (EL), requires a high resolution atomic force microscope (AFM) to provide fundamental multi-scale morphological and physical information for tracking the degradation modes of polymeric materials. This acquisition supports EL's Sustainable Engineered Materials and Net-zero High Performance Buildings Programs. The AFM will provide needed capability for measuring nanoscale changes in the physical and morphological properties of polymeric materials for use in service life prediction. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), a technique generating surface morphology/ property with atomic resolution, is used to measure surface nanostructures, dispersion of nanoparticles, nanoparticle/polymer interphase, and morphological changes for nanostructured polymeric systems during UV exposure. New features for AFMs have emerged rapidly in recent years. High-speed electronics enable recording and analysis of data from nanoscale events (e.g., force pulling experiments) are now available at timescales previously inaccessible. For the first time, true nanoscale quantitative material property mapping of adhesion, stiffness, dissipation, peak force, and average force for a wide range of materials can be delivered precisely and rapidly in real-time and with nanoscale resolution. The Contractor shall furnish the necessary equipment, personnel, material, and services to fabricate, install and test one Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) System. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. LINE ITEM 0001: Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) System, Quantity 1 The Contractor shall furnish one atomic force microscope system, including hardware, software for control and analysis, computer, and documentation. The system must meet or exceed the following minimum technical specifications: A. Hardware 1. Scanner - Must have a tip-scanning configuration - Must include a piezo scanner (head) that can operate under both open-loop and closed-loop configurations in all three axes - Must be comprised of a single scanner head for various AFM modes - Must be able to operate in open and closed-loop in XY and Z. - Must have closed-loop XY noise of no greater than 0.20 nm RMS in imaging bandwidth of 625 Hz. - Must have Z sensor noise of no greater than 40 pm RMS in imaging bandwidth of 625 Hz. - Must be capable of scanning < 500 nm scans in closed loop operation and maintain positional accuracy of <0.20 nm. - Must provide data sets/images of 5000 pixels - 5000 pixels or better on 8 or more data channels 2. AFM Modes - Must include standard imaging modes such as contact, tapping (intermittent contact), lateral force microscopy, force distance, force volume, electric force microscopy, and surface potential - Must include an imaging mode that simultaneously acquires topographic and electrical data - Must include an imaging mode that quantitatively maps the nanomechanical properties of a surface at resolutions of no less than 10 nm and at imaging rates of 1 Hz, over a modulus range of typical polymers and biopolymers 1 MPa to 10 GPa) and adhesion range (pN to - N). - Must provide control software, cantilever holder, and one diamond-tipped cantilever for nanoindenting and subsequent imaging with TappingMode; Must include at least one sapphire and one gold sample - Must provide manipulation and lithography at the nanometer and molecular scales; Must provide SPM Nanolithography Software Option and Nanolithography registration key - Probes for all AFM modes mentioned above must be included 3. System Optics - Must include top-view optics with motorized focus & digital zoom - Must have resolution of 1.5 - m or better - Must have Field-of-View of 200 - m or better - Must be capable of video capture from 180-micron to 1465-micron with aspect ratio of 1.3:1 - Must include a 5-megapixel camera, and framegrabber to display and store the optical image from within the AFM software. - Must include integrated data acquisition controller with at least eleven ADCs (two high speed), eleven DACs (two high speed), four digital lines (two in, two out), three digital lock-ins, eight simultaneous data channels, digital Q control, fourteen software configurable BNC I/O signal connections, and Virtual Signal Access. 4. Sample Stage - Must have software-controlled motorized XY stage with a range of travel of at least 150 mm - 150 mm - Must be removable to accept larger experimental apparatus (up to 210 mm diameter and 15 mm thick). - Must have a resolution of 2 - m or better and a repeatability of 3 - m or better in any one direction 5. Additional Hardware Technical Specifications: - Must have a noise floor of no greater than 30 pm - Must operate in both air and in liquids (e.g., via liquid cell) - Must have automated, and fully software controlled engage mechanism - Must have sample temperature control from -35oC to 250oC - Must be able to measure cantilever spring constants (e.g., thermal tuning) - Must be able to perform automated step-and-repeat measurements (i.e., programmed moves) over sample sizes of 100 mm - 100 mm or greater. - Must provide housing for the SPM controller, computer, stage controller, and other miscellaneous users hardware; Must provide a work surface and space for its 30-inch display monitor, mouse and keyboard - Must include integrated, pneumatic vibration isolation table and acoustic hood that can provide acoustic isolation and vibration isolation to render best SPM performance in a laboratory environment; Weight: Approximately 1000-Lbs; Dimensions: 36-inch wide by 33-inch deep by 63.5-inch high B. Software 1. Operating system must be Windows 7 2. Must include acquisition and analysis software to support all functions described in the Hardware section above. 3. Must include free software updates C. Computer 1. Hard drive capacity must be 1 TB or greater 2. Must be able to transfer data via USB 3. Must include a 30-inch LCD color computer monitor (100-240V, 50/60Hz, auto switching) 4. Operation system shall be Windows 7 D. Documentation 1. A manual describing all procedures to operate the instrument shall be delivered with the equipment. 2. A manual describing the maintenance procedures and removal of all major components shall be delivered with the equipment. 3. Instruction manuals of the original equipment manufacturer for all third party components shall be delivered with the equipment. 4. Two copies of a manual describing the operation of the data acquisition and analysis software shall be delivered with the equipment. The format of the data in the data files shall be fully documented. LINE ITEM 0002: Installation and Testing The Contractor shall provide installation and testing for the system and software. Installation shall be completed on-site at NIST 100 Bureau Dr. Gaithersburg, MD 20899 and shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/un-packaging of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of the system, turn-key start up including all testing of the system and software, and demonstration of all performance specifications. LINE ITEM 0003: Training The Contractor shall provide training services for the system and software to a maximum of three (3) regular users of the system. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all equipment functions, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting. The training may be completed at NIST immediately after installation and demonstration of performance specifications, however, not later than 30 days after successful completion of installation and demonstration of performance specifications. Installation and training shall be scheduled in advance with the NIST Technical Contact to be identified at the time of award. OPTIONAL LINE ITEMS: Line Items 0004 through 0006 are optional line items for additional items. The Contractor must provide pricing for all optional line items. The prices quoted for the optional line items shall remain in effect in accordance with the time periods specified herein. The Government may exercise optional line items, at its discretion, in accordance with FAR 52.217-7 Option for Increased Quantity-Separately Priced Line Items. The following individual items should be included in the quote and would be considered individually as part of the quote (Itemize): LINE ITEM 0004: Service Contract-Year One (OPTIONAL LINE ITEM) Service contract for one year (Period of Performance: FIRST YEAR following end of warranty), to ensure service and maintenance of the AFM and its associated components to ensure uninterrupted performance within manufacturers' specifications on a scheduled and as-needed basis. LINE ITEM 0005: Service Contract-Year Two (OPTIONAL LINE ITEM) Service contract for one year (Period of Performance: SECOND YEAR following end of warranty), to ensure service and maintenance of the AFM and its associated components to ensure uninterrupted performance within manufacturers' specifications on a scheduled and as-needed basis. LINE ITEM 0006: Service Contract-Year Three (OPTIONAL LINE ITEM) Service contract for one year (Period of Performance: THIRD YEAR following end of warranty), to ensure service and maintenance of the AFM and its associated components to ensure uninterrupted performance within manufacturers' specifications on a scheduled and as-needed basis. Warranty The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, a one (1) year warranty for the complete system and software. The warranty must cover all defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of final acceptance by the Government. During the warranty period, the Contractor shall bear all costs, including shipping, travel (including per diem), and labor, to complete the repair or replacement any defects. Delivery Terms Delivery terms shall be FOB Destination, and take place in accordance with Contractor's commercial schedule. FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The contractor shall deliver line item 0001 to NIST, Building 301, Shipping and Receiving, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640. Installation shall take place at NIST, Building 226/Room B235, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640. Final Acceptance (See also FAR 52.212-4(a)) Final acceptance shall be provided upon successful completion of all of the following: Delivery, installation, training and demonstration of all performance specifications. Technical Evaluation Criteria Award shall be made to the firm that provides the lowest priced, technically acceptable quote. Technical acceptability means that the quote meets all of the stated minimum specifications. The Government will evaluate the offeror's quote and award to the lowest priced, technically acceptable offeror. Quotation Submission Instructions All vendors shall submit the following to Willie Lu, Contract Specialist at willie.lu@nist.gov: 1) An electronic version of a quotation with a firm fixed price for line items 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, 0005, and 0006 2) Technical description and/or product literature which addresses all minimum requirements and clearly documents that the quoter meets or exceeds all minimum requirements identified herein. This is an Open Market Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for commercial products and services as defined herein. The Government intends to award a Purchase Order as a result of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation that will include the terms and conditions that are set forth herein. In order to facilitate the award process, ALL quotes shall include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows: The offeror shall state "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition." OR The offeror shall state "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following: Offeror shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s) Please note that this procurement is not being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If an offeror submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price. However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the offeror's FSS or GWAC contract, and the statement required above shall be included in the quotation. All quotations must be submitted electronically via Email, and be received not later than 2:00 PM Eastern time, on Monday, June 10, 2012. E-mail quotations shall not be deemed received until the quotation is entered in the e-mail inbox of Willie Lu at willie.lu@nist.gov Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation must be forwarded in writing via e-mail to Willie Lu, Contract Specialist, at willie.lu@nist.gov The full text of a FAR provision or clause may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. The following provisions apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items. Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://orca.bpn.gov in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required. The following clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items including subparagraphs: 52.219-28 Post-Award Small Business Program Representation; 52.222-3, Convict Labor; 52.222-19 Child Labor - Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies; 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52-222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities; 52.223-18, Contractor Policy to Ban Text Messaging While Driving. 52.225-3, Buy American Act-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act. 52.225-13, Restriction on Certain Foreign Purchases; 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration. 52.237-2, Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation; 52.247-34, FOB Destination; and Department of Commerce Agency-Level Protest Procedures Level above the Contracting Officer is also incorporated. It can be downloaded at www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/agency.htm.