NHR Grid Emulator Firmware Update and Model Conversion

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with N.H. Research, Inc. located at 16601 Hale Ave., Irvine, CA 92602 for an NHR Grid Emulator Firmware Update and Model Conversion, for the Engineering Laboratory, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The NIST Smart Grid Testbed facility is located on NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland campus. The facility consists of a series of contiguous and interconnected modules, which include: Power Conditioning System, measurement and smart sensor module, timing and synchronization facility, cybersecurity component, and Distributed Energy Resource (DER)/microgrid facility. The goal of the power-conditioning capabilities of the testbed is to accelerate the development of smart grid interoperability standards, by providing a combined testbed platform for system measurements, characterization of smart grid protocols, and validation of smart grid standards, with an emphasis on microgrids. At this time, NIST requires a firmware update for an existing NHR grid emulator in the NIST Smart Grid Testbed facility and a conversion of the NHR grid emulator from version 9410-48 to 9430-48. The update will ensure that the device has the latest operating software and the conversion will provide additional capabilities for the device including the ability to serve as both source and load. The NHR Grid Emulator instrument is proprietary to its original equipment manufacturer, N.H. Research, Inc. Only N.H. Research, Inc. is authorized or capable of providing the necessary updates and conversions due to the proprietary nature of the hardware and software of the instrument. No other systems in the market were identified as being compatible with the existing hardware and software of NIST's existing NHR Grid Emulator instrument. N.H. Research, Inc. is the sole manufacturer, and sells directly to customers. Accordingly, only N.H. Research, Inc. can meet this need. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, responses received by August 19, 2020 will be considered by the Government. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to January.Magyar@nist.gov so that they are received no later than August 19, 2020 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Each response should include the following Business Information: a. Contractor Name, Address, b. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address c. Contractor DUNS d. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must register in the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 e. Capability Statement