Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Maintenance Services for TA Instruments (SN 4010-0159 and SN 4020-0245)

Notice of Intent to Sole Source:

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: TA INSTRUMENTS - WATERS L.L.C.( UEI: SV5VEP8C43D8) 159 LUKENS DR, HISTORIC NEW CASTLE, DE 19720-2765

The sole source justification is based on the following:

The Security Technologies Group (STG) within the Materials Measurement Science Division has a need to acquire (1) a service agreement for (1) base year for the following pieces of equipment (a) a NIST-owned TA Instruments ARES G2 rheometer (SN 4010-0159) with an Orthogonal Superposition (OSP) Accessory (b) a NIST-owned TA Instrument RSA G2 dynamic mechanical analyzer (SN 4020-0245). This equipment is one of the primary tools used for CHIPS Metrology R&D Proposal titled "Advanced Cure Kinetics, Stress, Mechanical Properties and Warpage for Next-Generation Microelectronics Packaging under Device Relevant Conditions." Continuous service on these two instruments ensures maximal uptime and maximum productivity for the project team and helps achieve NIST's goal of providing the semiconductor industry an understanding of how the curing of packaging materials impacts performance in the most advanced current and future microelectronic devices. Therefore, continued maintenance is needed for these instruments to ensure that they continue to be maintained in proper working condition for research in this critical project. This service agreement shall provide unlimited service visits plus one preventative maintenance and calibration visit for each instrument, to include all required repair parts, on-site labor, and travel.

TA Instruments is the original manufacturer of the equipment for which maintenance service is sought. As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplier, they are prepared to service and calibrate apparatus of their own manufacture and design according to ISO 9001:2000 procedures. Since TA Instruments calibrates and services only products of its own manufacturer and is a general calibration or service organization of its own equipment, they are the sole source calibrator. They have engineers that have been trained to calibrate the equipment as per TA Instruments’ specification. TA Instrument provided a Sole Source letter certifying that there are no third party vendors who can purchase Service parts from them and that they are 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.

Given these facts, extensive market research has revleved that TA Instruments is the only source reasonably available to fulfill the requirement. The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 811210 - Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a size standard of $34 million.

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 9:00 AM EST May 11, 2026, will be considered by the Government. Responses must be submitted via email to the Government point of contact listed below.

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.