Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MARCH 14, 2003 FBO #0469
SOURCES SOUGHT

66 -- High-Access Cryostat

Notice Date

3/12/2003
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

Contracting Office

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mountain Administrative Support Center, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, CO, 80305-3328
 

ZIP Code

80305-3328
 

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-NB814000304058MAS
 

Archive Date

4/16/2003
 

Point of Contact

Michelle Sandoval, Purchasing Agent, Phone (303) 497-3983, Fax (303) 497-3163,
 

E-Mail Address

michelle.sandoval@noaa.gov
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) has a requirement for a custom cryostat to be manufactured that will be able to reach temperatures of below 10mK and allow many, of order 300 to 2000, electrical wires to be connected to an experiment. In order to meet these requirements, the cryostat is of a custom design and has to be manufactured identically to the design given by our specifications and must be completely manufactured by July 31, 2003. The dilution refrigerator unit is being procured separately and will be installed and tested by NIST. These specifications are for the main cryostat and its interior vacuum connections to the dilution refrigerator. The construction of the cryostat will proceed in two stages. In stage I, the main cryostat with the liquid nitrogen and liquid helium tanks, as well as their supports and radiation shields, will be built. This cryostat will then be transported to the NIST Boulder site to be tested for cryogen consumption rates. These rates will be measured both before and after the main vacuum container is gold plated. In stage II, fabrication of parts will include a still pumping line, a 1K pot system and return line, a precooler line, and the thermal and mechanical supports for the dilution refrigerator. The contractor will be responsible for the transportation of the cryostat to and from the NIST facility. The custom nature of this system will require close communications between Dr. John Martinis, the physicist heading this project, and the manufacturer. We require that a meeting to be held every two weeks between the manufacturer and a NIST representative to check the status of the project and to check on details of the manufacturing and assembly process. Stage I components will include a wooden support structure, a stainless steel (SS) top plate flange, a SS vacuum vessel with pump-out ports and a gold-plated inside surface, a 77K cryogen tank, a 4K cryogen tank, thermal supports made from G10, Al tank flanges for the two cryogen tanks, and infrared shields made from Al. The cryostat will have 12 insert ports to allow NIST to add other subsystems for the dilution refrigerator and custom electrical feedthroughs. The various parts here and for the Stage II parts must be manufactured with sufficient tolerances so that the parts do not have to be custom fitted to the rest of the cryostat. The surfaces and materials of the cryostat must be chosen such that the cryostat provides electrical shielding (as a Faraday cage) around the experimental spaces. Stress modeling of the vacuum vessel must also be undertaken. The cryogen vessel and its fill tube must be made entirely out of stainless steel and welded stainless steel connections to maximize the reliability of the cryostat from leaks. Stage II components will include a 1K thermal ring, a still flange, a cold plate flange, a mixing chamber flange, access hole covers, thermal supports, thermal connections to the dilution refrigerator, radiation shields, a still insert, a still connection tee, a precooler insert, and a 1K pot and return line insert. These components will be manufactured to be compatible with ultra-low temperature operation. The 1K pot insert will contain both welded SS and brazed parts. Documentation of the fabrication and assembly of the instrument shall be included. Machine-shop drawings of the various pieces will be used to document the instrument as well check its design by NIST staff before construction. A list of the suppliers and any specialty machine shops that are used for the fabrication of parts shall be supplied. Assembly or welding instructions shall be provided, as appropriate. Written specifications will be provided in a separate package upon request. More detailed specifications are also given by three-dimensional computer-generated design files in "SolidWorks" and cross sections in a pdf format. Evaluation Criteria as follows: Both price and technical content will be used to evaluate the proposals. Because of the critical nature of this piece of equipment to the success of the quantum computing effort, technical merit will be weighted more heavily in the final decision, with price assuming increased importance in the differentiation between closely ranked technical proposals. Technical merit will be evaluated by a team of three NIST scientists based on the following 3 criteria, each weighted by 33.3%: 1) Ability of manufacturer to construct scientific instruments. Performance will be evaluated on past experience with constructing scientific instruments, especially those involving cryogenic design and fabrication methods, electromagnetic shielding, and low vibrational noise. 2) Construction techniques and ability. Performance will be evaluated on construction techniques of the various components, judged by manufacturing techniques and the ability of the processes to hold mechanical tolerances for interchangeable components, produce reliable weld joints, and give low infrared-radiation emissivity surfaces. 3) Ability of manufacturer to communicate and collaborate with NIST. Performance will be evaluated base on the ability of the manufacturer to communicate easily and often with NIST in order to assure proper final design and manufacturing, and to ensure that all components fit together as a cryostat system and be compatible with the dilution refrigerator unit. Since testing is required at the NIST facility to ensure compatibility with other electronic and vacuum systems, easy transportation of the instrument to and from NIST is desirable. This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100K). This requirement is set-aside for small business unless small business cannot meet the Governments need at a reasonable cost. Technical merit, as well as price, will be considered in selecting a vendor. Technical questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer by fax or by email. You may submit your proposal by fax or by mail. Proposal must be received on or before close of business April 1, 2003. Please include delivery date, F.O.B. point, business size, Federal Taxpayer Identification Number, and Dun and Bradstreet Number. Terms and Conditions and agency level protest procedures can be fond on web site http://oamweb.osec.doc.gov/CONOPS/#REFERENCE. Hard copy in full text available from office address and phone number listed in notice. Anticipated award date April 3, 2003.
 

Place of Performance

Address: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado

Zip Code: 80305

Country: USA
 

Record

SN00277464-W 20030314/030312213343 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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