The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with LPKF Distributions, Inc. located in Tualatin, OR on a sole source basis for an LPKF Chiller N350. The statutory authority for this acquisition is 41 USC 3304(a)(1), as implemented under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901.

The Boulder Micro-Fabrication Facility (BMF) has an LPKF PLU4 laser prototyping system that is cooled by an LPKF proprietary chiller. The BMF requires another LPKF Chiller for SLDP10 Laser Source.

Based on the Government’s market research, only LPKF Distributions Inc. can provide a commercially available product that meets the following Governments minimum requirements:

The chiller shall be an LPKF Chiller N350 for SLDP10 Laser Source that is drop in compatible with the Government’s existing LPKF PLU4 system. The chiller shall:

1. Be a new unit.


2. Be drop in compatible with the Government’s existing LPKF PLU4 system


3. Be made to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts to OEM specifications.


4. Be able to operate according to OEM specifications.

LPKF Distributions, Inc. is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the commercial equipment that meets the required minimum specifications.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 423830 – Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers, with a small business size standard of 500 employees. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to LPKF Distributions, Inc. for this requirement.

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. 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 may be issued by April 1, 2023. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to angela.hitt@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting.