Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Board Prototype
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to noncompetitively acquire a specialized memory characterization board prototype, known as Daffodil3, from Ectron Corporation under the authority of FAR 12.102(a). This acquisition is for the fabrication and assembly of a complex printed circuit board designed to characterize custom analog memory devices used by researchers and industry partners. The board includes multiple high-precision components such as Analog to Digital Converters, Digital to Analog Converters, operational amplifiers, analog multiplexers, digital potentiometers, an FMC module, a 256-pin socket for custom memory devices, and an Avnet Ultrascale+ SOM. The board must be manufactured using FR4 or FR408HR material with Class II inspection standards, and all required components except the memory socket must be included. NIST has determined that Ectron is the sole source capable of meeting the exact technical specifications because the Daffodil3 prototype was originally developed and fabricated by them, and any deviation in process or design would invalidate ongoing research and cause significant project delays. Market research conducted between July 2025 and June 2026 confirmed no other vendor can replicate Ectron’s proprietary fabrication methods or ensure compatibility with prior experimental results. This notice is not a solicitation for quotes, and no formal solicitation document will be issued. However, any company believing it can meet or exceed NIST’s requirements is invited to respond by the deadline of July 13, 2026, with detailed information including its Unique Entity Identifier from SAM.gov, a description of its technical capabilities, evidence of authorization if acting as a reseller, and any other data to support competitive potential. The North American Industry Classification System code for this acquisition is 334516, reflecting its classification under analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing. The award, if no competitive response is received, will be issued as a sole source contract to Ectron Corporation based in San Diego, California, with performance expected in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The primary point of contact for inquiries is Cielo Ibarra at NIST.
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Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USASet-Aside
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Full Description
Announcement Type: Special Notice
Classification Code: 6695
Announcement Number: NIST-SS26-CHIPS-146
Subject: Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Board Prototype– Ectron
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Memory Device Characterization Platform project requires prototype board acquisition for memory characterization platform (Daffodil3) for Alternative Computing Group in Physical Measurements Laboratory. This service involves the fabrication and assembly of the Daffodil3 board. Researchers and industries with custom memory devices will use this board as a standalone benchtop platform to characterize their memory devices and measure various metrics.
NIST intends to award a non-competitive contract to Ectron Corporation for a Board Protoype to be used to characterize and evaluate custom analog memory devices developed by researchers and industry.
This notice is not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of RFO 12.102(a). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.
NIST requires a solution that meets the following minimum requirements:
- Complete board fabrication and assembly service for a memory characterization platform called Daffodil.
- The board contains several Analog to Digital Converters (ADC), Digital to Analog Converters (DAC), Operational Amplifiers, Analog Multiplexers, Digital Potentiometers, an FMC module, 256-pin socket for a custom memory device, and Avnet Ultrascale+ SOM (XCZU3EG-1SFVA625).
- Board fabrication is to be done with FR4 or FR408HR material. A rigid-flex or rigid-type board with Class II inspection is required.
- All components required for assembly, other than the memory socket, shall be included.
After thorough evaluation, it has been determined that the board prototype from manufacturer, Ectron, is essential for several reasons:
- Technical/Compatibility: NIST requires the fabrication of a Daffodil3 prototype board. Daffodil3 prototype board is the first-generation memory characterization platform which has been used for initial experiments and characterizations of memory devices. The results generated from this platform serves as building block for developing and completing the final memory characterization platform. This prototype board is a complex system, containing several Analog to Digital Converters (ADC), Digital to Analog Converters (DAC), operational amplifiers, and a specific 256-pin socket for custom memory devices, establishing a critical control interface with Daffodil3. NIST conducted initial experiments and characterizations of our memory arrays using Daffodil3 prototype board fabricated by Ectron. To continue NIST’s project, we now need to acquire multiple units of the same prototype board. It is essential that any future evaluation of memory device is performed on a board that exactly matches the specifications of the Daffodil3 prototype initially fabricated by Ectron. No other vendor can replicate Ectron's exact specifications for fabrication, as each has their own proprietary fabrication process. Even a minor deviation from the fabrication specifications can render the entire experiment invalid and potentially delay the project by several months, or even years. Therefore, it is essential that NIST acquire the prototype platform to Ectron to ensure the successful completion of our project. Therefore, it was determined that only Ectron could provide board prototypes that meet the Government’s minimum technical and compatibility requirements.
NIST conducted market research from July 2025 – June 2026 by conducting online searches and discussions with sources to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. The results of that market research revealed that only Ectron Corporation, 9340 Hazard WAY
Suite B2, San Diego, California, 92123-1228, United States (UEI: NN99VSVQ8665) appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements. The Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to Ectron, under the authority of FAR 12.102(a). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516.
However, any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier number in https://sam.gov; details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements; whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied.