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Sources Sought Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator

ID: NB686100-26-02139 • Type: Sources Sought • Match:  95%
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Description

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Acquisition Management Division

Sources Sought for Commercial Product Purchase

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION.

It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible business firms that can provide the product described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition.

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on vendors that can provide an Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator per the specifications attached herein.

This announcement is not a Request for Proposals or Quotes (RFP/RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The information contained in this notice is DRAFT only and, as such, is subject to change prior to the issuance of a solicitation. No solicitation is available currently. Additionally, the Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this Sources Sought announcement. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-aside categories will be considered. In addition, this market research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, who manufacture the Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator in the U.S. prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. PLEASE INDICATE WHAT COUNTRY MANUFACTURES THIS PRODUCT.

After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive or non-competitive procurement on the System for Award Management (sam.gov) and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage that can fulfill the requirement, in accordance with the Specifications, then this acquisition shall be solicited as a small business set aside, however, NIST is seeking responses from ALL responsible sources, including large and small businesses. Responses should include the country where the product is manufactured.

This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

Interested business organizations that believe they can meet the requirements should submit electronic copies of their capability statement. Please limit responses to four (4) pages or less. Responses should include the following information:

  1. Name of the company that will provide the product(s).
  2. Name of the company that will manufacture the product.
  3. County of origin or manufacture of the product.
  4. Spec/data sheets and examples of products that meet the specifications that demonstrate experience in meeting the requirements of this procurement.
  5. Typical lead time to deliver the product after receipt of order
  6. Any other relevant information that is not listed above that the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.

(Company sales brochures or marketing packages will not be considered.)

Any proprietary information should be so marked. The written capability statement should be received by the Contract Specialist, Angela Hitt via email at angela.hitt@nist.gov no later than the date and time posted in this notice. No quotes will be accepted at this time and will not be considered.

REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW:

See the attached Requirements and Specifications document

Background
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information on vendors capable of providing an Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator. This requirement is part of NIST's mission to advance measurement science and technology, particularly in the field of quantum computing and related technologies. The goal is to identify potential business firms that can meet the specifications for this cryogenic system prior to determining the method of acquisition.

Work Details
The contract involves the provision of one Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator with specific requirements including:
- Base temperature of less than 15 mK at the coldest stage.
- Equipped with a pulse tube cooler with greater than 1.3 W cooling power at 4.2 K.
- Includes all necessary thermometry, support structures, pumps, and heaters for continuous operation at 15 mK.
- A line-of-sight port for unobstructed optical access to the mixing chamber.
- A thermal radiation shield at approximately 45 K and 4 K stages.
- Cryogen-free operation, requiring no additional cryogens after delivery (excluding external liquid nitrogen traps).
- A water-cooled compressor with flexible lines at least 5 m long.
- No oil-based pumps in the helium-circulation path.
- Dry vacuum pump capable of evacuating to a pressure of 1e-4 torr before cooldown.
- Software for automated cooldown and operation procedures, with a cooldown time not exceeding 24 hours when fully wired.
- Cooling power greater than or equal to 250 microwatts at 100 mK when loaded with diagnostic thermometry, heater wiring, and coaxial cabling.
- Gold-plated oxygen-free-high-conductivity copper base temperature plate providing an experimental volume larger than specified dimensions.

Period of Performance
Delivery expected within 6 months after receipt of order.

Place of Performance
NIST-Boulder, CO and NIST-Gaithersburg, MD.

Bidder Requirements
Vendors must provide capability statements including: company name, manufacturer name, country of origin for the product, spec/data sheets demonstrating experience in meeting requirements, typical lead time for delivery after receipt of order, and any other relevant information for market research. The cryostat system must be an established commercial product with at least one unit operating successfully in the field; experimental or prototype items are not acceptable.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a closely related prior contract for an optical access cryostat, with Formfactor listed as the awardee on contract 1333ND23PNB680610 valued at $335,510 (09/21/23–12/31/25). The prior work is described as a purchase of an “optical access cryostat,” which aligns with the current requirement for an Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator providing optical line-of-sight access to the mixing chamber and cryogenic cooling functionality.

Overview

Response Deadline
July 17, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EDT Due in 9 Days
Posted
July 7, 2026, 4:56 p.m. EDT
Set Aside
None
Place of Performance
Boulder, CO 80305 United States
Source

Current SBA Size Standard
1000 Employees
Pricing
Likely Fixed Price
Est. Level of Competition
Low
Est. Value Range
Experimental
$450,000 - $1,200,000 (AI estimate)
Odds of Award
27%
On 7/7/26 National Institute of Standards and Technology issued Sources Sought NB686100-26-02139 for Sources Sought Optical Access Dilution Refrigerator due 7/17/26. The opportunity was issued full & open with NAICS 334516 and PSC 6640.
Primary Contact
Name
Angela Hitt   Profile
Phone
(303) 497-7305

Documents

Posted documents for Sources Sought NB686100-26-02139

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Additional Details

Source Agency Hierarchy
COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF > NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY > DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST
FPDS Organization Code
1341-000SB
Source Organization Code
100182905
Last Updated
July 7, 2026
Last Updated By
lisa.stevens@nist.gov
Archive Date
Aug. 1, 2026