Vacuum Compatible stages – Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is issuing a combined sources sought notice and notice of intent to sole source for vacuum-compatible stages needed for the NG6-U and NG6-A neutron beamlines at its Gaithersburg, Maryland site. The requirement covers two motor-driven rotation stages, two motor-driven tilt stages, four vacuum-compatible cables, and four non-vacuum cables to support remote monochromator crystal manipulation under vacuum conditions. Key requirements include operation at 1x10-6 Torr or lower, aluminum-alloy or similarly low-activation materials, vendor-installed vacuum-compatible stepper motors, and specific motion and size constraints for the rotation and tilt assembly. NIST states that market research to date indicates AIM Concepts appears to be the only capable source and, absent alternate sources, the government intends to award sole source; responses should be emailed to Tracy Retterer and Forest Crumpler as soon as possible and preferably before the closing date, with questions submitted within five days of the initial posting.