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

R -- MACHINE-MILLING HIGH TEMPERATURE, NICKEL-COBALT ALLOY SOL 53SBNB867055 DUE 032698 POC Contracting Officer, Joan M. Smith -- (301) 975-4658, 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) intends to enter into a Sole-Source contract with Analytical Reference Materials International (ARMI), in Evergreen, CO, under the authority of 41 USC 253(c) (1) -- Only One Responsible Source. The procurement involves machine-milling high temperature, nickel-cobalt alloy material (one piece of material, in bar form, to be provided by NIST) into chips for use as a chemical composition reference material which will be certified for sulfur and 'tramp' elements contents by the NIST Standard Reference Material Program. The high temperature, nickel-cobalt alloy material has a sulfur content of less than 0.5 mg/kg., which is crucial for its intended application. The alloy material is used in the fabrication of turbine blades used in jet aircraft engines and must conform to very stringent metallurgical and chemical characteristics in order to perform properly and safely. The chips produced, which shall be as uniform in size as possible, shall come from the outer portions of the bar stock where there is no evidence of piping. Chipping of the bar shall be discontinued several millimeters before any piping is encountered. Initially, work shall be performed on one bar piece of starting material, provided by NIST, with the option for a second bar piece of starting material to be chipped during the period October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999. The estimated quantity of chipped material to be produced for NIST under this acquisition is approximately 40 kg. from each bar piece of material. Work shall be performed in accordance with NIST protocols, to be provided at time of award. Machining (chipping) of the high temperature, nickel-cobalt alloy material is both very difficult and requires specialized capability. Analytical Reference Materials International has worked with this type of alloy in order to produce reference samples for testing purposes and has the required specialized expertise and facilities to meet the Government's needs. Delivery is required at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD facility within two months after receipt of order. Interested firms may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all responses received within 15 days after the date of publication of this synopsis, will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Written responses to this synopsis shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bonafide capability to fulfill the requirement. A solicitation will not be issued. See Notes 22 and 26. (0071)

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