Vacuum Compatible stages

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting quotations for vacuum-compatible precision stages to support a pending installation at the NG6-U and NG6-A neutron beamlines, under solicitation number 1333ND26QNB680293. This is a total small business set-aside procurement, designated under NAICS code 334516, with all offers restricted to qualified small businesses. The requirement includes two vacuum-compatible precision rotation stages, two vacuum-compatible precision tilt stages, four vacuum-compatible cables, and four non-vacuum cables, all of which must be new, factory-manufactured units without exception for prototypes, used, refurbished, or gray-market components. The stages must operate at pressures of 1 x 10^-6 Torr or lower, feature aluminum alloy bodies (excluding copper alloys), and be driven by vacuum-compatible, double-shafted, two-phase stepper motors installed by the vendor prior to shipment. All items must be delivered in original manufacturer packaging with complete documentation, following F.O.B. Destination terms to NIST’s facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with a strict four-month delivery deadline. Offerors must submit a three-volume quotation electronically to NIST’s contracting officials by July 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET. Volume I must demonstrate technical compliance through detailed product literature and clear citations linking each requirement in the Statement of Work to specific capabilities; mere assertions of compliance are insufficient. Volume II must present a separate, firm-fixed-price quotation covering all line items and shipping, valid for 90 days, while Volume III addresses terms and conditions. The evaluation is based on the lowest priced, technically acceptable offer, with Technical Capability as a mandatory pass/fail gate: failure to prove compliance with all minimum specifications results in disqualification. Acceptance criteria include visual and operational testing within ten working days of receipt, with performance verified under both ambient and vacuum conditions. Payment is net 30 days following successful installation and testing, with invoicing required via email to INVOICE@NIST.GOV or through the Treasury’s IPP platform, and must include mandatory identifiers such as contract number, CLIN, SAM registration, and full compliance with 5 CFR part 1315. The contract incorporates key FAR clauses including Buy American, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer, Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations, Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors, and Disput