Notice of Intent: 500-kip Compression Testing Frame

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Contracting Opportunities Announcement Type: Special Notice
Announcement Number: NIST-NOI-26-01227

Subject: Procurement of 500-kip Compression Testing Frame

Introduction
This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intend to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with the Forney LP, located at 2050 Jacksons Pointe CT, Zelienople, PA 16063-2840 USA. The purchase order will specifically procure a 500-kip Compression Testing Frame as well as a Laser Extensometer in order to advance the NIST Materials and Structural System Division (MSSD) standards development.

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted using the procedures at FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1000 Employees.

Description
The Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD), within the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), serves as a world-class resource for developing and promoting science-based tools—including measurements, data, models, protocols, and reference standards—to advance the global competitiveness of U.S. industry through innovations in building materials and construction technology, while enhancing the safety, security, and sustainability of the Nation's buildings and physical infrastructure.

To support these mission objectives, MSSD requires a commercially available 500-kip automatic compression testing system with a fully integrated laser extensometer for conducting concrete materials testing. The system must be capable of performing compression, flexural, splitting tensile, and modulus of elasticity/Poisson's ratio testing in accordance with applicable ASTM standards. Integration of the laser extensometer with the testing machine's controls and data acquisition system is a minimum technical requirement to ensure accurate measurements, seamless system operation, and reliable data collection.

Accordingly, the contractor shall furnish and deliver one (1) commercially available 500-kip automatic compression testing system equipped with a fully integrated laser extensometer and all associated hardware, software, and accessories necessary to perform the required testing in accordance with the Requirements Document.

Sole Source Determination
The sole-source determination is based on the results of the Government's market research, which identified Forney LP as the only known source capable of meeting NIST's minimum technical requirements.

Market research included a review of commercially available compression testing systems and engagement with industry to identify potential manufacturers capable of providing an equivalent solution. The research determined that no other manufacturer offers a commercially available Compression Testing Machine with a fully integrated laser extensometer that satisfies the Government's required technical specifications. While other manufacturers offer compression testing systems or laser extensometers as separate components, no alternative source was identified that provides a fully integrated commercial solution capable of meeting the Government's performance requirements without significant modification, customization, or increased technical risk.

The requirement for a fully integrated laser extensometer is essential to achieving the required measurement accuracy, system compatibility, operational efficiency, and reliability needed to support NIST's testing and research objectives. Substituting a different testing system or combining components from multiple manufacturers would introduce compatibility concerns, increase implementation and validation efforts, and create additional performance and schedule risks without providing a demonstrable benefit to the Government.

Because market research identified only Forney LP as capable of providing a commercially available solution that satisfies all of the Government's minimum requirements, conducting a competitive procurement is not expected to increase competition or result in additional technically acceptable offers. Instead, it would likely result in a single responsive quotation while unnecessarily extending the acquisition timeline.

Accordingly, Forney LP is the only known responsible source capable of providing the required Compression Testing Machine with a fully integrated laser extensometer. A sole-source acquisition is therefore appropriate.

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Marvin Jean, Contract Specialist, at marvin.jean@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to marvin.jean@nist.gov so that they are received no later than July 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Eastern Time (ET).

Each response shall include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor (SAM) Universal Entity Identification (UEI)
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement