Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to identify vendors capable of providing an Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator that meets specific technical requirements, with the goal of determining the best acquisition approach. This sources sought announcement is not a request for quotes or proposals, nor does it obligate the government to award a contract; it is solely intended to gather information on eligible manufacturers and assess market capability. Respondents must provide a capability statement not exceeding four pages, including the name of the supplying and manufacturing companies, the country of origin or manufacture, technical documentation demonstrating compliance with the specifications, typical lead times, and any other relevant details. Proprietary information should be clearly marked, and sales brochures or marketing materials will not be accepted. The requirement is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees, and responses will help determine whether a small business set-aside is feasible—if at least two qualified small businesses are identified, the acquisition may be restricted to small businesses. All responses, including those from large businesses, are welcome, but the country of manufacture must be explicitly stated. Submissions must be sent electronically to Angela Hitt at angela.hitt@nist.gov by July 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST, and no quotes will be accepted during this phase. The anticipated place of performance is Boulder, Colorado, and the contract office is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.