National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div.,100 Bureau Drive Stop 3572, Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3572

A -- PREPARATION OF THIN FILMS AND MEMBRANES SOL 52SBNB9C1064 DUE 082099 POC Sandra L. Febach, Contracting Officer (301) 975-6326; Julie M. Liu, Contract Specialist (301) 975-6492. 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 negotiate on a sole source basis with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205-2185, for the preparation or fabrication of biomimetic, biological, and biocompatible thin films, membranes or samples, and the nanoscale characterization of these samples. The goals of this project are: (1) to learn to fabricate materials that mimic in some ways the behavior of biological systems; and (2) to implement shear-force tracking of wet samples for investigating properties such as domain formation, diffusion dynamics, domain structure, protein folding, molecular binding, or cell attachment onto these materials using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). Meeting these objectives requires an organization with expertise in the preparation of wet organic samples for study in a scanning probe microscope and the use of scanning probe microscopies on these samples, because extremely delicate topographic sensing is necessary to avoid perturbing the surface. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, has pioneered novel techniques for preparing wet organic samples for observation with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and for studying these samples with AFM. The Department is uniquely qualified to perform this requirement based on its expertise with the fabrication of wet biomimetic films (lipid bilayers) and with the use and analysis of novel force microscopies to study the domain structure of these films. The Government anticipates the award of a cost-reimbursement contract. The period of performance is anticipated to be from date of contract award through 24 months thereafter. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 45 days after date of publication of this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Written responses shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement. A solicitation is not available. See Note 26 Posted 07/07/99 (W-SN350873). (0188)

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