What this opportunity is
The Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking a contractor to refurbish a valved gallium effusion cell used in a molecular beam epitaxy crystal growth system. This opportunity is suitable for small businesses with expertise in vacuum equipment repair, specifically those with experience in rebuilding and testing complex effusion cells. As a Sources Sought notice, this is a tracking opportunity, allowing interested parties to gather information and potentially respond to a future solicitation.
Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.
Description
STATEMENT OF WORK/REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT
Title: Vacuum Equipment Repair for Growth System
Requesting Lab: Quantitative Nanostructure Characterization Group (686.09), Applied
Physics Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
NIST-Boulder has a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) crystal growth system used to synthesize
semiconductor materials and devices. This equipment supports critical projects that include
CHIPs metrology research projects and fabrication of semiconductor nanostructures for a
NIST standard reference instrument (SRI). This system uses a valved gallium effusion cell
manufactured by E-Science to provide a vapor phase flux of gallium atoms during crystal
growth. This cell is currently broken and needs to be rebuilt to bring it back to functional
operation. Therefore, the Government requires the refurbishment of this effusion cell in
order to continue its mission critical research.
Purpose/Objective: The goal of this procurement is to refurbish the Government’s existing
valved gallium effusion cell to meet the needs of current research projects.
II. SCOPE
The Contractor shall perform an effusion cell rebuild on NIST’s 90 cc Valved Titan Effusion Cell
(serial number ES-18-0530), inclusive of FOB Destination delivery and option line items.
III. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The Contractor shall perform the cell rebuild to meet all technical specifications identified below.
Line Item 0001: Rebuild 90 cc Valved Titan Effusion Cell (E-Science part number REB-
ECVT-090-450-1140)
Description: Disassembly, removal and replacement of broken/degraded components,
cleaning of usable parts, reassembly
Quantity: 1
A. Technical Specifications
a. Source should be returned to original specifications
b. Source should be outgassed and tested in vacuum
c. Documented test results should be provided with repaired source
Line Item 0002: Crucible, 90cc Valved Titan (E-Science Part Number C101137)
Description: New graphite crucible for valved effusion cell
Quantity: 1
A. Technical Specifications
a. Crucible should be verified to be dimensionally compatible with rebuilt source
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IV. DELIVERABLES
Description Quantity or Format Due Date
1. Rebuilt valved gallium
effusion cell
2. New crucible for cell
Equipment 8 weeks after
receipt of order
Standards of Acceptance: The NIST TPOC or COR shall review and respond with an
acceptance or request for revision email to the Contractor Point of Contact (POC) within 1
week of receipt of deliverable.
V. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE
The cell will be repaired and tested at the Contractor’s facility.
VI. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE/LEAD TIME
6 weeks after receipt of order
VII. DELIVERY TERMS
Delivery shall be F.O.B Destination and shall occur in accordance with the delivery due dates
provided in the above table.
FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with
carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery
specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring
before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the
purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The contractor shall deliver all
Line Items to:
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Shipping and Receiving
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80305
C/O Matt Brubaker, Building 81, Room 1A-115
***Due to ongoing limited site access of the NIST facilities, the Awardee SHALL confirm
with the Designated Government Official and the Contracting Officer prior to ANY
shipment to NIST***
VIII. INSPECTION & ACCEPTANCE
In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves
the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified
system performance. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if
performed, at the Contractor’s expense.
Performance Tests:
1. Visual inspection of cell to confirm it is undamaged and has been adequately rebuilt.
2. Electrical probing to verify electrical continuity of heating filaments and thermocouples.
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3. Electrical probing to verify electrical isolation of heating filaments from the source flange.
4. Manual manipulation of valve assembly to verify smooth operation.
NIST may choose at its discretion to forego this part of acceptance testing.
A visual inspection of the equipment will be performed by the NIST TPOC to identify
surface defects or any form of indication that any equipment was damaged during
transport to NIST. The Government shall have sole discretion to require repair or
replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the
Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance shall reject the
equipment due to defects and/or nonconformance. The vendor is responsible for latent
defects discovered any time after final inspection. However, the extent of its liability
shall be prorated over the useful life of the equipment.
The Government will test, inspect, and accept or reject the equipment within 5 working
of the receipt of the equipment unless otherwise indicated above. The Government
reserves the right to conduct quality assurance testing to confirm that a given
instrument(s) meets the manufacturer’s and/or the Government’s performance
specifications. It is anticipated that the equipment will meet all manufacturer’s
specifications and/or the Government’s performance specifications identified in the
most recent operations and maintenance manual for each piece of equipment and/or in
this document.
IX. PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Advance payment is not authorized. The Contractor must invoice in arrears according to the
payment schedule. The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms,
upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:
1. 10…
Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.