NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Helium Compressor

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division, intends to negotiate with Cryomech, Inc. (CAGE: 55537), located in Syracuse, NY, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, to purchase a Helium Compressor.

The Magnetic Imaging Group is requesting a helium compressor and cold head assembly to be attached to its Agilent MRI magnet. This would serve as a replacement for the existing helium compressor and cold head assembly as they have reached their end of life. This replacement is on an existing MRI magnet (Agilent 7T 310) and will allow the Magnetic Imaging Group to continue operating its MRI system for a number of years into the future.

Due to the nature of the system and the necessary connections to maintain system stability, the OEM manufacturer of the Agilent MRI cold head was contacted. Only the OEM (Cryomech) can produce the parts to ensure a helium compressor/coldhead will attach properly to our MRI system.

The NAICS Code is 333912, Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price contract to Cryomech, Inc. for this requirement.

Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used, it is estimated that an award will be issued by September 30, 2023.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to aaron.ritter@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to aaron.ritter@nist.gov no later than August 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. MT.