Sources Sought Notice of Intent to Sole Source for AFM Optics & Accessories

Active

Contract Opportunity

NIST-SS25-CHIPS-0099

6640 / 334516

Primary POC: Liz Timberlake (Elizabeth.timberlake@nist.gov)

Secondary POC: Tracy Retterer (tracy.retterer@nist.gov)

Title:  AFM Optics & Accessories

BACKGROUND

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

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing AFM Optics & Accessories. If no alternate sources are identified, the Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to Bruker (40 Manning Rd, Billerica, MA 01821) under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b); only one source reasonably available. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516.

As part of efforts to advance metrology tools and measurement science for Modeling and Simulating Semiconductor Materials, Designs, and Components, NIST requires instruments for microscopy and microanalysis of semiconductor microelectronic devices and their constituent materials. Specifically, NIST seeks an optics module and cantilever holders that will be used as part of an existing, commercial atomic force microscope that NIST owns. These accessories will be used in a shared-use laboratory environ

Line Item 0001:

Description: Optics Module for Commercial AFM

Quantity: One (1)

Compatibility and Integration with Existing AFM

The optics module shall be fully compatible with NIST’s existing, commercial atomic force microscope (AFM) hardware, including the scan head and microscope assembly. The module shall be fully compatible with the commercial AFM control software. NIST’s commercial AFM system is a Bruker Dimension Icon Pro. Additional information (hardware configuration, software version, etc) about the commercial system can be provided upon request.

The module hardware shall attach directly to the commercial AFM system and as needed shall be compatible with existing commercial system’s subsystems, such as the beam bounce optics, the sample stage, and the AFM enclosure.

The module hardware shall also detach from the commercial AFM system so as to allow for storage or reconfiguration of the AFM system.

The module shall preserve the AFM’s topographic imaging capabilities.

Optics

The optics module shall match Bruker part number 840-016-907.

Line Item 0002:

Description: Cantilever Holders for Commercial AFM

Quantity: Five (5)

Compatibility and Integration with Existing AFM

The cantilever holders shall be fully compatible with NIST’s existing, commercial atomic force microscope (AFM) hardware, including the scan head and microscope assembly. The holders shall be fully compatible with the commercial AFM control software. NIST’s commercial AFM system is a Bruker Dimension Icon Pro. Additional information (hardware configuration, software version, etc) about the commercial system can be provided upon request.

The cantilever holders shall attach directly to the commercial AFM scan head and as needed shall be compatible with existing commercial system’s subsystems, such as the beam bounce optics, the sample stage, and the AFM enclosure.

The cantilever holders shall also detach from the commercial AFM scan head so as to allow for storage or reconfiguration of the AFM system.

The cantilever holders shall be compatible with commercially available AFM microcantilevers.

The module shall preserve the AFM’s topographic imaging capabilities.

Cantilever Holders

Each cantilever holder shall match Bruker part number DAFMCH.

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 at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• 
  

  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).

  
  


• 
  

  Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.

  
  


• 
  

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

  
  


• 
  

  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 firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why. Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.

  
  


• 
  

  For the NAICS code

  
  


• 
  

  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.

  
  

• 
  

  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.

  
  

• 
  

  If 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.

  
  

• 
  

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

  
  


• 
  

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

  
  


• 
  

  Please let us know if you would like to engage to get 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.

  
  

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 by 12:00pm Eastern Time on August 15, 2025. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attachments/Links