NIST-SS26-154 -Combined SSN and NOI - Ferrovac UHV Suitcase

Combined Sources Sought Notice and Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract for a Ferrovac UHV Suitcase Package for Room-Temperature Transfer Notice ID: NIST-SS26-154 Contract Opportunity Type: Sources Sought Response Date: 07/30/2026 Product Service Code (PSC): 6640 NAICS Code: 333242 BACKGROUND The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to identify alternative sources that (a) are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements for the following commercial products and commercial services and (b) would be interested in competing for that requirement: Line Item 0001: Description: Ferrovac UHV Suitcase Package for Room-Temperature Transfer, product codes FER-VSN40S(VRV)L, FER-WMG40(EMS)-PGWMEMS-0440-0092, and FER-GRABSHOMADEMS, with the following minimum specifications Quantity: One (1) Minimum Specifications 1. The system shall use a combination of ion and getter pumps with electronic controls for pressure and temperature readout, and getter activation, all integrated and mounted on the frame of the suitcase. 2. The system will include a 2.75 CF gate valve with UNF threads to connect the suitcase to existing UHV chambers. 3. The system shall allow for an extended length of the wobble stick from the gate valve of at least 400 mm or larger for EMS type samples and at least 440 mm for flag type samples. 4. The system shall allow the ion pump to remain on with battery power only and the system under UHV during transfer to different locations with an onboard battery supply and controller. 5. All battery and electronic controls shall be mounted on the suitcase frame to allow easy movement between locations under UHV conditions and battery power. 6. The system shall include a battery controller to maintain the battery. -- 1 of 6 -- 7. The system shall have an integrated ion and getter pump (NEG) with a pump speed of at least 290 l/s for H2 with the NEG activated and at least 6 l/s for H2 when the NEG is saturated. 8. The system shall include bakeout heaters and a bakeout tent to bake out the system to 150 degree C. 9. The system shall be made from completely UHV materials. 10. The system shall include a hard case to allow shipping the suitcase under UHV on airlines. 11. The system shall include a short CF40 to KF40 adaptor 12. The system shall include a Ferrovac dual shaft wobblestick manipulator with gripper PGWMEMS, product code: FER-WMG40(EMS)-PGWMEMS-0640-0092 a. The wobble stick shall have a linear travel of at least 640 mm b. The wobble stick shall have a retracted length of 92 mm or smaller c. The wobble stick shall have an independently operated 1.5 mm allen key d. The wobble stick shall be UHV compatible and bakeable to 150 degrees C. 13. The system shall have a secondary grabber for flag style plates, product code: FER- GRABSHOMADEMS a. The grabber shall be able to be picked up and gripped with the PGWMEMS gripper on the dual shaft wobble stick b. The grabber shall be compatible with flag style sample plates c. The grabber shall allow continuous rotation for safe handling. d. The grabber shall be UHV compatible and bakeable to 150 degrees C. Line Item 0002: Description: Ferrovac Storage Stack for Flag Style Plates and EMS Sample plates, product codes FER-RECOMEMSSTACK, with the following minimum specifications Quantity: One (1) Minimum Specifications 1. The system shall include a storage tower of multiple drawers for both EMS sample plates, flag sample plates, and a parking space for the GRABSHOM in line item 0001.7. 2. The tower shall include two drawers for EMS sample plates with at least 18 mm clearance. 3. The tower shall include one drawer for flag type sample plates with at least 10 mm clearance. 4. The tower shall include one parking spot for the GRABSHOM gripper in line item 0001.7. 5. The tower shall be located inside the vacuum suitcase and allowed to be raised and lowered with a linear motion feedthru. -- 2 of 6 -- Line Item 0003: Description: Ferrovac Support Trolley for Universal Suitcase Docking, product code FER- FRMCARTZXRVS, with the following minimum specifications Quantity: One (1) Minimum Specifications 1. The system shall include a support trolley that allows easy and secure docking of the Ferrovac suitcase in item 0001. 2. The support trolley shall allow at least 300 mm of height adjustment using hydraulic actuation. 3. The support trolley shall include a 360-degree rotating platform. 4. The support trolley shall allow at least 90 mm of linear travel. 5. The support trolley shall allow tilting up to plus or minus 2.5 degrees. 6. The support trolley shall have rubber wheels. Line Item 0004: Description: Ferrovac Fast Pump Down Dock with LN2 Dewar UHV Booster CF40, product code FER- VSCTDH40, with the following minimum specifications Quantity: One (1) Minimum Specifications 1. The system shall include a fast pump down docking chamber for the Ferrovac suitcase in item 0001. 2. The docking chamber shall include a DN40CF gate valve with UNF threads. 3. The docking chamber shall include an integral and isolated liquid nitrogen dewar. 4. The docking chamber shall include a thermal insulating sleeve and dewar lid. 5. The docking chamber liquid nitrogen system shall include a heat exchanger for fast pump down to reach 1E-8 mbar in 30 minutes or less. 6. The docking chamber shall include a Pt100 temperature sensor. 7. The docking chamber shall allow the cold trap to be heated for fast venting processes. 8. The docking station shall include a temperature controller and cable to heat up the cold trap. NIST has not yet determined its acquisition strategy for this requirement and encourages interested sources to respond to this Notice. If NIST’s market research indicates there are alternative sources that are capable and interested in competing to fill this requirement, separate and apart from United Mineral & -- 3 of 6 -- Chemical Corp (K84NBZG5JNJ5) then NIST will consider conducti…