4 Kelvin Closed Cycle Cryostat

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through the Department of Commerce, is conducting market research via a Sources Sought announcement for a 4 Kelvin Closed Cycle Cryostat under solicitation number NB686000-26-01896. This is not a formal Request for Quotation or Request for Proposals, and no quotes or bids are being solicited; the purpose is to identify capable manufacturers, assess market availability, and gather technical data to inform future procurement decisions. Responses must be submitted electronically by June 26, 2026, to Angela Hitt at angela.hitt@nist.gov and are limited to four pages. Companies must provide their name, the manufacturer’s name, the country of origin, technical specifications demonstrating compliance, typical lead times, and any relevant information that aids NIST’s market analysis. The cryostat must achieve a base temperature below 3 K, deliver over 1.5 W of cooling power at 4.5 K, and include a sample space of at least 250 mm in diameter and 225 mm in height, with all necessary cooling hardware, thermometry, heaters, and temperature controllers. Peak-to-peak temperature stability must remain under 50 mK, and cool-down/warm-up times must be less than two hours. A separately priced option for a 1 Tesla superconducting split-coil magnet with a bore greater than 110 mm and superconducting high-current leads is also under consideration. The government requires identification of the product’s manufacturing origin and is exploring all small business set-aside categories, with preference for U.S.-based manufacturers. Warranty must be at least one year and can be the base manufacturer’s warranty. Travel, training, maintenance, and installation are not required, and proprietary information must be clearly marked. NIST will not compensate respondents for their submissions, and marketing materials or sales brochures will not be considered. The initial posted date was June 12, 2026, and responses were due by June 26, 2026. Subsequent amendments posted answers to questions and corrected the delivery timeline from 12 weeks to 12 months after receipt of order, though no award is contemplated under this announcement. The place of performance for any future contract would be Boulder, Colorado, and the NAICS code is 334516.