Solicitation - Biometric Suite for Improved Virtual Reality Studies

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside under FAR 19.5 for the acquisition of a Biometric Suite for Improved Virtual Reality Studies, solicited under number NB671020-26-01979. The requirement is for a fully integrated hardware and software system to support public safety research using virtual reality and wearable sensor technologies. The contract requires one unit of an embedded sensor suite compatible with Varjo XR-3, Quest 3, HTC Vive Vision, and Apple Vision Pro headsets, capable of capturing EEG, EOG, and HRV metrics including theta/beta and alpha/theta ratios, EEG Phase Locking Value, blink rate, and dwell time; one unit of wearable physiological sensors measuring Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, and Galvanic Skin Response with accompanying surface EMG sensors in 4- or 8-pack configurations; and one software license—either perpetual or a three-year subscription—capable of recording biometric data from a single participant. All equipment must be new, commercial-off-the-shelf products; prototypes, demonstration models, used, or refurbished items are strictly prohibited. The contractor must possess an active SAM.gov registration with a valid Unique Entity Identifier and an Export Control Classification Number at the time of award. The solicitation is restricted to small businesses with 750 or fewer employees under NAICS code 334310. All quotations must be submitted electronically to Daniel.Kent@nist.gov no later than 5:00 PM MST on June 29, 2026, and must be structured in three volumes: Technical Quotation detailing compliance with all minimum requirements and providing documentation of at least three relevant past projects, Price Quotation specifying firm-fixed pricing per CLIN including shipping and discounts, and Terms and Conditions affirming agreement to all solicited clauses. The award will be made on a best value basis considering technical capability, experience, and price, with technical compliance serving as a mandatory pass/fail gate. Deliverables must be shipped FOB destination to NIST-Boulder at 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, with delivery completed within 30 days of award. Packaging must follow NIST LOCAL-39 instructions, including per-CLIN labeling, itemized packing lists, unit identification, and container marking with contract number and CLIN. Upon receipt, NIST will