R -- Utilization of Transmission Electron microtomography

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, on behalf of the Polymers Division, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106(1) (b), with North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC to utilize the Transmission Electron Microtomography (TEMT), which is a complex, highly specialized and unique technique, within the United States. The TEMT facility located at Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University is the only known facility that has demonstrated and documented this capability as a research method for polymer thin films utilizing advanced analysis spoftware developed for 3-D image reconstruction and analysis.****The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541690, and the size standard is $6.5M. ****No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations, however, parties authorized by North Carolina State University. that can provide a TEMT facility and technical assistance noted above may respond to this notice to indicate that they can provide it. Such notice shall be provided by July 25, 2006. The Government will then determine whether this procurement can be competed. A determination by the Government whether to compete the proposed acquisition will be based upon responses to this notice.