Repair of a TA Instruments ARES-G2 rheometer

FBO ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT

ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICE

SUBJECT: Sole source – Repair of a TA Instruments ARES-G2 rheometer

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB642000-25-01756

RESPONSE DATE: 6/13/25

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) owns a TA Instruments ARES-G2 which is a closed-design strain-controlled rheometer. It is used to characterize the rheological properties for a variety materials/ project at NIST. This series of apparatus measures one or more physical properties of materials as a function of temperature. The temperature range of interest is from –180 to 1500 °C (-290 to 2730 °F). This is from approximately liquid air to white hot temperature. Products consist of a personal computer-based controller, a measurement module, data acquisition and analysis software, and accessories. This equipment is currently nonfunctional and is in need of repair.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the TA Instruments located in New Castle DE, to repair this equipment.

Sole Source justification is based on the following:

Market research has shown that the TA Instruments is the sole company who can provide the equipment repair for NIST and has provide the following in writing.

TA Instruments has stated “Since TA Instruments calibrates and services only products of its own manufacturer and is a general calibration or service organization of its own equipment, we are the sole source calibrator. We have engineers that have been trained to calibrate the equipment as per TA Instruments’ specification. There is no third party who can purchase Service parts from us. This is to certify that TA Instruments is the only organization authorized to service products for which TA Instruments is the OEM supplier. Specifically, TA Instruments has proprietary knowledge and components required to calibrate and to service such apparatus. There are no other OEM-approved US vendors of such service, ISO 17025 Accredited or otherwise.

NAICS code for this requirement will be 811210– Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a small business size of $34.0M.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 1:00AM EST on 6/13/25 will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Inquiry POCs

Erik.Fycklund@nist.gov Primary

Donald.Graham@nist.gov Secondary

National Institutes of Standards and Technologies NIST Acquisition Management Division (AMD)

100 Bureau Dr. Mail Stop 1640

Gaithersburg, MD. 20899-1640