Sources Sought Notice for Microfluidics Control Station

Active

Contract Opportunity

The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs.

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group within the Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division of the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) require a pressure-based flow control system to realize high precision flow-based measurements inside a microscale measurement system. This will enable accomplishment of this group’s mission of developing microscale measurement technology for application of detection and classification of critical minerals within semiconductor manufacturing waste streams.

Critical minerals are present in heaps of materials in domestic stockpiles of e-waste, mining waste, and byproducts of fossil fuel production. Chemical receptors (including membranes and sorbents) can capture critical mineral ions leached into solutions from waste in order to recover them for re-use or sale. When receptors bind specific ions, they often have characteristic heat signatures that correspond to the thermodynamics of the binding/release mechanism. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a technique capable of measuring these heat flow signatures via addition of precise volumes of a titrant solution to a receptor reservoir. The thermal response arising from induvial injections is integrated until a saturation point is reached and can be used to fit a curve relaying reaction stoichiometry, receptor-ion affinity, reaction enthalpy and reaction entropy. These parameters can be affected by solution characteristics including pH, presence of competing ions, solvent, etc. While ITC is traditionally a biochemical analysis technique, it has been demonstrated in inorganic/organic chemistry instances and for other areas of materials science as well.

Delivery of mineral ions and receptors to microreactor vessels require precision flow control. To facilitate reagent changes and precision stop/start conditions, the flow control method desired here requires precision pressure-driven flow controllers, flow rate sensors, and valving schemes. These systems require facile operation with Matlab and Python programming software for hardware interface and data recording.

The acquisition of this equipment is aligned with CHIPS R&D Metrology Project 7.03 (“Quantifying Critical Materials Recovery from Microelectronic Waste”).

NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that will achieve the objectives described above, in addition to the following essential requirements:

Line Item 0001: Pressure-based Flow Control System

Quantity: 1

Technical Specifications

1. Pressure control module with 4 pressure outputs, 2 pressure inputs (vacuum, ~5.5 bar)

1.1. Output channel configuration (range and stability):

1.1.1. Channels 1 and 2: 0 to 200 mbar

1.1.1.1. 0.015% full scale stability

1.1.2. Channel 3: 0 to 8000 mbar

1.1.2.1. 0.005% full scale stability

1.1.3. Channel 4: -900/1000 mbar

1.1.3.1. 0.007% full scale stability

1.2. Response and settling times ~50 ms

1.3. Software interface to read and record pressure stability

2. Flow sensors

2.1. Low flow range (below 1.5 µL/min) with +/- 10 % accuracy

2.2. Low/Medium flow range (approx. 1 to 7 µL/min) with +/- 5% accuracy

2.3. High flow range (approx. 0 to 1 mL/min) with +/- 5% accuracy

2.4. Software to read and record flow rates at > 10 Hz; possibility for feedback to pressure controller

3. Switching microvalves

3.1. Multi-switch controller

3.2. Two (2) 3/2-way microvalves to enable sample selection into

3.3. Two (2) 2/2-way (nominally open) valves

4. Reservoirs and accessories

4.1. Four (4) fluid reservoirs (50 mL volume)

4.2. Fittings and connectors for reservoirs to interface with pressure controller and microvalves

4.3. Fittings kit for adapting various conventional microfluidic tubing (e.g., flexible Tygon or PEEK with 1/16” outer diameter) via Luer, barb (e.g., 1/16), and threaded (e.g., ¼-28) connectors

5. Software

5.1. The software must provide:

5.1.1 Complete control of pressure to individual outlets.

5.1.2 Real-time plotting and visualization of pressures and flow rates

5.1.3 Interface with Matlab and Python for real-time instrument readout and control

5.2. The computer used to control this system may not be connected to the internet; therefore, installation of any software needed for this instrument must be achieved without the use of the internet.

5.3. Software should be compatible with a Windows 11 operating system, which will be installed on a NIST supplied computer

6. Training

6.1. Training session(s) for up to 2 users at NIST that will include a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, data administration, and basic troubleshooting.

7. Warranty

7.1. Minimum 12-month warranty to cover defects in materials and workmanship of the flow control system.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response: Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice. Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response.

• 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).

• Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice. For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following:
  
  
  
  • Manufacturer name
  
  
  • Model number
  
  
  • Technical specifications
  
  
  • If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s)
  
  
  
  

• Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements. Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response.
  
  
  
  • Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.
  
  
  
  

• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why. Please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive.

• State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details, including timeline.

• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

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  • 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.
  
  
  
  

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  • 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.
  
  
  
  

• Describe services that are available with the purchase of the aforementioned equipment from your company such as installation, training, and equipment maintenance.

• Describe standard terms and conditions of sale offered by your company for the recommended equipment such as: delivery time after your company accepts the order; FOB shipping terms; manufacturer warranty (including details regarding nature and duration); if available, description(s) of available extended warranty; equipment setup and test; operator and service instruction manual(s); cleanup after installation; and if applicable, other offered services. Provide a copy of manufacturer standard terms and conditions that typically relate to the sale of the specified equipment, if available.

• State published price, discount, or rebate arrangements for recommended equipment and/or provide link to access company’s published prices for equipment and services.

• If the recommended equipment and related services are available for purchase on any existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts against which NIST may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Identify any customers in the public or private sectors to which you provided the recommended or similar equipment. Include customer(s) information: company name, phone number, point of contact, email address.

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

• State if you require NIST to provide additional information to improve your understanding of the government’s requirement and/or would like to meet with NIST representatives to discuss the requirement and the capabilities of the identified equipment.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received 5 calendar days prior to the response date. If the Contracting Officer determines that providing a written amendment to this notice to document question(s) received would benefit other potential respondents, the questions would be anonymized, and a written response to such question(s) would be provided via an amendment to this notice.

IMPORTANT NOTES

This notice is for market research purposes and should not be construed as a commitment by NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. There is no solicitation available at this time.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

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

Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s capability.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

After a review of the responses received, a synopsis and solicitation may be published on GSA’s eBuy or SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered an adequate response to any such solicitation(s).

The responses shall not exceed 5 pages including all attachments, charts, etc.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!

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