National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div., Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

66 -- LABORATORY VACUUM FURNACE SOL 53SBNB760116 DUE 051697 POC Contracting Officer, Joan M. Smith -- (301) 975-6458, Contract Specialist, Tamara Grinspon -- (301) 975-4390 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a requirement for a quantity of one (1) laboratory vacuum furnace for in-situ neutron scattering studies of materials at high temperatures, one (1) replacement heating element, electrical power cables (3 meters each) with connectors appropriate to the furnace connector posts, attached, and two (2) sample mounting sticks, each fitted with two thermocouples thermally shorted to the sample stick close to the threaded end, where one sample stick shall be fitted with type-K thermocouples and the other shall be fitted with type-C5 thermocouples. The furnace shall heat samples to 1800 degrees C, using a resistive heater. The furnace shall be cylindrical (axis vertical), with a top-plate mounted to an upper body that is separated from a lower body by a neutron-transparent window. This window shall also be wide enough to allow +/- 10 degrees of vertical beam divergence from the entire length of the sample. The portions of the heating element and the heat shields surrounding the sample that intercept the neutron beam shall be constructed from niobium metal foil to minimize absorption of the beam, parasitic incoherent scattering and long-term induced radioactivity. The exterior window may be constructed from aluminum. The furnace body (both upper and lower portions), the top plate and the power connection posts shall be water cooled. In order to facilitate efficient evacuation of the furnace chamber, the top plate shall include two vacuum flanges to accommodate an inverted turbo pump (Leybold TMP 151) and a vacuum gauge. Easy sample access shall be provided with a flange mounted to the top plate to which a sample stick is attached. Two sample sticks are required and each shall include two thermocouples of the types specified above. The end of each sample stick shall include a threaded end to attach sample containers. The sample stick shall allow height adjustment to place the sample in the center of the neutron beam. There shall be no interference between the turbo pump, vacuum gauge, sample stick, power cables and cooling lines. All components that are likely to reach high temperatures shall be constructed from appropriate refractory materials. Specifications are as follows: The furnace shall achieve 1800 degrees C, using less than 200 Amperes, and producing a voltage drop at the furnace of less than 10 Volts; the temperature gradient along the sample shall be less than 10 degrees C; the furnace shall accommodate samples of up to 45 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height; the furnace shall provide 360 degrees unobstructed neutron access in the scattering plane (horizontal), plus or minus 10 degrees, out of the scattering plane over the entire length of the sample; the sample center shall be located 152 mm above the base of the furnace; the furnace shall use a cylindrical heating element of niobium metal, with niobium heat shields and an outer window of aluminum; the heating element shall be continuous and approximately twice as long as the maximum sample length;the top-plate shall include a 100 ISO-K vacuum flange for mounting a vacuum sensor; no magnetic materials shall be used; the jacket and top-plate shall be water cooled; and the furnace shall have top-loading adjustable sample access. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION ; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation, #53SBNB760116, is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 45. The associated Standard Industrial Classification Code (SIC) for this procurement is 3821, and the small business size is 500 employees. The FOB Point shall be Destination, NIST, Building 301 -- Shipping and Receiving, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Delivery is required within 12-14 weeks of Date of Award; Delivery location is the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 301, Receiving Room, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items. Evaluation Criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: Past Performance, Technical Capability to Meet Specifications and Price. Technical evaluation criteria, when combined, are significantly more important than price. Quotes must be accompanied by information that demonstrates experience and competence in design and construction of similar items. All vendors are to include with their quotes, a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses, which are cited in clause 52.212-5(a) are applicable to this acquisition and (b) as follows: 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.225-3, Buy American Act-Supplies; 52.225-21, Buy American Act, North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act-Balance of Payments Program. All quotes should be sent to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Acquisition and Assistance Division, Building 301, Room B117, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001, or Faxed to (301) 963-7732. Copies of above-referenced clauses are available upon request, either by telephone or fax. All responsible, interested firms may submit a quote by 3:00 PM, Washington, DC time, on May 16, 1997.**** (0121)

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