NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Subatmospheric Gas Delivery Source (SAGS) Diborane Cylinder

The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Entegris, Inc.; 117 Jonathan Blvd, Chaska, MN 55318 for the purchase of a Subatmospheric Gas Delivery Source (SAGS) Diborane Cylinder for NIST's Engineering Physics Division (EPD).The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The NIST EMD provides leadership in conducting research in the areas of dimensional, nanometer-scale, surface, and acoustic pressure metrology; accelerometry; silicon Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology; Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS); power electronics; nano electronics; and flexible/printed electronics. In support of this mission, the Atom-Based Metrology in Surface & Nanostructure Metrology Group of implementing the capability for boron doping of Si (100) surfaces with atomic scale control using a new low temperature (LT) UHV STM. For this purpose, an ultra-high purity diborane (B2H6) gas delivery system with AES safety cabinet and a fully automated purge panel is going to be installed. While the safety cabinet is designed for a specific cylinder configuration, SAGS B2H6, the cylinder that contains the gas to be dosed is not included with the cabinet. Entegris, Inc is the sole source Contractor for this product. The reason is the dangerous nature of the gases used by the system (toxicity and flammability), extreme care has been taken to design the gas cabinet and delivery system to work with specialized cylinders that will supply the gases (phosphine, and diborane) in the safest manner possible. In particular, NIST's owned UHV STM system is designed to work only with a VAC cylinder of diborane - this is a gas cylinder that is able to supply gas at sub-atmospheric pressure. This is achieved by the use of a highly reliable two-stage sub-atmospheric regulator that is internal to the cylinder. Diborane cylinders of this kind that meet all of our requirements are unique to Entegris. In addition, the tool needs to be compatible with existing atom based device and experimental setups are already by NIST that were previously purchased from Scienta Omicron. If the tool is not compatible with this existing equipment it would require the purchase of a new system and thus result in a duplication of Government costs. Compatibility is also needed to allow for exchangeability with NIST's collaborators to allow for continuity of research. Entegris is the only manufacturer and distributor of the required SAGS Diborane Cylinder in the world. Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 326199 and the size standard is 750 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern on April 6, 2018. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to contact@example.gov . No telephone requests will be honored. 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 normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.