Zeiss EVO SEM Workstation Control Unit

Active

Contract Opportunity

THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Announcement Type: Special Notice

Classification Code: 6695

Announcement Number: NB683120-25-02392

Subject: Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Zeiss EVO SEM Workstation Control Unit

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

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) via FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Nanoscale Device Characterization Division (NDCD) develops and advances the measurement and knowledge infrastructure to characterize nano- and atom-scale engineered materials and solid-state devices for innovation in information processing, sensing, and future quantum technologies. The NDCD’s technical activities span atom-scale devices, nanoscale spectroscopy, nanoscale imaging, nanoscale processes and measurements, and alternative computing. To meet mission-critical requirements, the NDCD needs to procure a new workstation to control a Zeiss EVO SEM. This acquisition will provide the Division with essential capabilities in the spectroscopic metrology of color centers to further their development as platforms for quantum sensing and communication.

Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy is essential to determine the properties and performance of color centers in wide-band gap semiconductors, which the NDCD is developing for use as quantum sensors. CL involves coupling a photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy system to an SEM, providing the resolution of SEM with the sensitivity of PL. PL is the most popular technique to characterize quantum color centers, but it is generally limited in spatial resolution by the diffraction limit of visible light to a micrometer or more. Using electrons from an SEM as the excitation source circumvents this limitation in spatial resolution, allowing individual color centers to be rapidly imaged on the nanoscale. CL is the only technique that can provide rapid imaging of color centers with nanoscale spatial resolution and is essential for our efforts to develop color centers as next-generation quantum centers. Replacing the workstation coupled to the CL system is necessary because the control unit for our Zeiss EVO SEM (serial number 0852) broke recently and no longer functions. This workstation cannot be repaired due to the discontinuation of the software/parts. The only way to regain functionality/control of our CL/SEM system is to replace the workstation. This acquisition will support the Spectroscopy of Solid State Quantum Sensors program by improving its capabilities in the spectroscopic metrology of color centers towards its ongoing mission-critical efforts to develop color centers in wide-band gap semiconductors as a platform for quantum technologies.

The Contractor shall provide one (1) Zeiss EVO SEM workstation control unit that meets the following minimum specifications:

1. Must successfully regain functionality/control of our Zeiss EVO SEM (serial number 0852).


2. Must be configured to include all the necessary hardware and software to successfully regain functionality/control of our Zeiss EVO SEM.


3. Must be factory vetted and tested prior to delivery to ensure that it is capable of successfully regaining functionality/control of our Zeiss EVO SEM.

NIST conducted market research from March 2025 – July 2025 by conducting online searches, discussions with sources, and discussions with colleagues to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. The results of that market research revealed that only Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, One North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601, United States, UEI: H41JAKKNEXY1 appears to be capable of meeting NIST’s requirements.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Include only the following information provided below. Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact no later than 08/01/25, 5:00pm ET.

1. Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).


2. Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements (Capability Statement).


3. Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.


4. Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your company’s ability to provide a technically acceptable product. Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.


5. For the NAICS code
   
   
   
   1. Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business. See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.
   
   
   2. If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement.
   
   
   
   


6. your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.


7. Describe your company’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.


8. Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.


9. Contact the primary and/or secondary point of contact (provided below) if you would like to engage in discussions to gain a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section (provided above).

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice must be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact. Questions must be submitted so that they are received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 07/29/25 to receive a government response prior to the close of this notice. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.


2. This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.


3. This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.


4. No award will be made as a result of this notice.


5. NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.


6. NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Attachments/Links