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The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with CAMECA INSTRUMENTS, INC, 5470 NOBEL DR, FITCHBURG, WI 53711-4963 for the purchase of a base plus 41 option year service agreement for the NIST owned LEAP 4000X Si instrument to be utilized by NIST’s CHIPS Metrology R&D Program. The statutory authority for this acquisition is 41 USC 3304(a)(1); FAR 13.106-1(b).

The semiconductor supply chain is global, specialized, and interconnected. Chipmakers do business with thousands of individual suppliers that provide the highly complex materials and tools used to produce semiconductors. To address the lack of full visibility into the semiconductors markets supply chain and R&D ecosystem gaps NIST will conduct the measurement science, or metrology, critical to the development of new materials, packaging, and production methods in chip manufacturing.

Laser-assisted atom probe tomography (hereafter abbreviated as “LEAP”) is of significant importance in this regard since it is the only means available to perform sub-nm-resolved 3D chemical mapping of advanced engineered solid materials. Such engineered nanostructures may be layered or segmented and consist of arbitrary chemical composition and irregular geometric shape. The proposed acquisition for continued maintenance and service of the CAMECA LEAP 4000X Si (serial number 5020) is therefore mission-critical to the CHIPS Metrology R&D Program.

Our efforts are directly aligned with the NIST mission [http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/mission.cfm] for advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. This work also conforms to NIST's vision of being a world leader in critical measurement solutions for semiconductor manufacturers in the United States. Moreover, our work matches NIST core values which include meeting or exceeding the expectations of NIST customers, world-class performance, and continuous overall improvement.

The purpose of this procurement is to ensure the CAMECA LEAP 4000X Si (serial number 5020) instrument at the NIST Boulder Laboratories is operating reliably, effectively and continues to provide the CHIPS Metrology R&D Program with advanced analytical methods and measurement capabilities to meet the critical research and metrology needs described above. To that end NIST has concluded that the service contract for the LEAP 4000X Si instrument (serial number 5020) will meet the Government’s requirements.

Sole source determination is based on the need to acquire a one (1) year base with one (1) option year service agreement for the NIST owned LEAP 4000X Si instrument. A comprehensive market survey was conducted to discover vendors capable of providing the required maintenance services. Survey results determined CAMECA INSTRUMENTS, INC. is the only company with the proprietary knowledge, resources, and capability to provide maintenance services for the equipment.

CAMECA INSTRUMENTS, INC. is the sole manufacturer of the equipment and the only provider that has highly trained experienced personnel and employ tools, instruments, software, test apparatus, methodologies, techniques, and practices approved for use with the instrument by the manufacturer. The service protocols and instrument specifications as set forth by the equipment manufacturer must be adhered to at all times.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, with a small business size standard of $34M revenue

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 be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Interested parties that believe they can satisfy the requirements listed above must identify their capability in writing before the response date of this notice. Only responses received by the established date and time shall be considered by the government. Responses shall be submitted via email to joni.laster@nist.gov.

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