Combined Sources Sought Notice and Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract for an Optical Dilatometer with Heating Microscope Capability

The Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of delivering an optical dilatometer with heating microscope capability. The contractor must supply a non-contact, horizontal optical dilatometer system with exchangeable optics, a MoSi2 furnace operating up to 1700 °C, automatic gas control, and associated software, alongside providing installation, training, and a minimum one-year warranty. Performance will take place at a laboratory benchtop in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and the system must be compatible with hydrogen atmospheres and run on 230 V or lower power. Responses and questions regarding this sources sought notice and intent to sole-source to Linseis Inc. must be submitted via email to Sadaf Afkhami at Sadaf.Afkhami@nist.gov by 9:00 AM EST on July 23, 2026.