Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Wavelength Shifting Fiber

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with Kuraray America, Inc. for the purchase of wavelength shifting fiber for use in the Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) at NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The NIST Center for Neutron Research is engaged in a project to build a polychromatic incident beam reflectometer for measurement of many types of layered microstructures. The detector for this instrument will use an array of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite crystals to diffract neutrons scattered from the specimen into an array of neutron sensors. These sensors, under development at NIST, use neutron-sensitive scintillators to produce light which is then collected by wavelength shifting fiber optics and conducted to a photodiode. All development work performed at NIST and collaborators use Kuraray Y-11 wavelength shifting fiber. The specific required fiber will shift blue light produced by the scintillators to a green light for transport to a photo sensor. The K27 dye formulation in 650ppm concentration provides the correct properties for light capture. Each sensor required ten fibers (0.5mm diameter) in lengths of 60cm. The entire system consists of 1,620 neutron sensors, requiring 6km to produce all of the sensors needed for the instrument. All developmental prototypes have been developed using identical material. Kuraray is the only contractor that can provide the required wavelength shifting fiber in the dye concentrate, diameter and form (cane) that is required for the instrument developed by NIST. 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 335921 and the size standard is 1,000 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 5:00 p.m. (EST) on July 21, 2015. 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.