Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Probe Station Temperature Control System

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to award a sole-source firm-fixed-price purchase order to MPI America Inc. under FAR Subpart 12.102(a) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) for the upgrade of a 200mm wafer probe station’s temperature control system. MPI America Inc. is the only responsible source capable of delivering the required upgrade due to its role as the original equipment manufacturer, ensuring full compatibility, safe operation, and warranty support for the existing MPI TS2000-IFE system. The requirement includes supplying and installing a temperature control system capable of achieving variable chuck temperatures down to -60°C using an air-only cooling method without liquids or Peltier devices, with demonstrable ice-free operation at that temperature. The work is to be performed on-site at NIST-Boulder, Colorado, with all deliveries required to be completed no later than October 30, 2026. The NAICS code is 334413, with a size standard of 1,250 employees, and the vendor must hold an active Unique Entity Identifier on SAM.gov and a valid Export Control Classification Number. A U.S. citizen must be present on-site for all work, and foreign nationals require advance registration. The contract anticipates up to four option periods for calibration, maintenance, warranty, and training, though their specifics are undefined. No formal evaluation criteria, weights, or competitive bidding process is being used due to the sole-source nature of the procurement, which is justified by the OEM-specific nature of the system. Responses to the notice of intent must be submitted in writing via email to daniel.kent@nist.gov no later than May 19, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. MT, and are solely for determining if competition is feasible; if not, an award is expected by June 2026. The purchase order will be administered by NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with direct delivery to the Boulder facility, and acceptance will occur after on-site installation and successful operational demonstration. Packaging, marking, and preservation requirements are not detailed beyond the need for proper identification with NIST property numbers, shipping addresses, and ATTN instructions, and no MIL-STD or formal inspection standards are cited. Government oversight for acceptance is implied, though no specific COR, COTR, or PCO is designated.