NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Vandium Sample Cans

The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Metal Technology of Albany, Oregon, for the purchase of vanadium sample cans under other than full and open competition by the authority of FAR subpart 13.106(1)(b). The NIST Center for Neutron Research has a requirement for additional vanadium sample cans to be used in neutron scattering powder diffraction experiments. Metal Technology is the only contractor who can provide the vanadium deep drawn tubes and has the ability to electro-weld to titanium required by the design of the required sample cans. The design of the required sample cans makes explicit use of the deep drawn character of the tubes because the smooth closed end enables making the maximum use of the available sample without increasing unwanted background scattering. This characteristic is critical to NIST's use because neutron scattering samples are typically small but expensive or time-intensive to produce. The vanadium tubes are electro-welded to titanium flanges and are required to be helium leak-tight to a tight tolerance. This tight leak tolerance is crucial as they will contain a potentially radioactive powder. Metal Technology is the only contractor with both the capability to produce the deep drawn vanadium tubes plus the experience and capability to electro-weld to titanium in order to produce the reliability required in order to meet NIST's requirements. Therefore, Metal Technology is uniquely qualified to provide the required vanadium sample cans. Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 331491, and the size standard is 500 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 12:00 p.m. (EST) on March 16, 2012. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected]. No telephone requests will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.