GDSFACTORY+ SOFTWARE AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT – COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT/NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

***THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE***

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing GDSFactory+ Software. If no alternate sources are identified, the Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to Doplaydo  Inc., 1650 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services,  with a size standard of $34.0 M.   

The Office of Information Systems Management’s (OISM) Research Services Office (RSO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) manages and supports NIST’s enterprise on and off premise computing and data storage environments that underpin NIST’s mission and business functions.

NIST has a need for GDSFactory Software and maintenance support.  The software is a  open-source Python library for designing and automating integrated circuits, particularly for photonics, quantum, analog, and MEMS devices, enabling users to programmatically create complex layouts, perform Design Rule Checks (DRC), Layout Versus Schematic (LVS), simulate, and generate industry-standard fabrication files like GDSII. It streamlines the entire chip design workflow from parametric layout generation to simulation and fabrication, making hardware design more accessible, scalable, and efficient.  

NIST operates clean room facilities in both Gaithersburg and Boulder, each with substantially usage from users across different OUs.

By acquiring GDSFactory+ to NIST will bring a standard, well-developed mask-layout tool to all NIST users, allowing greater sharing of knowledge and possible collaborations at NIST.

GDSFactory+ software is essential to NIST researchers in both Gaithersburg and Boulder campuses. If the software and support isn’t purchased  it would impact on the research work that needs to use this software.  

Line Item 0001:

Description: Per-User 2-year License Includes:

GDSFactory+ (schematic, layout, and simulation), along with LVS and DRC capabilities

Dedicated customer support

Qty:  10

Period of Performance: 6/1/2026-5/31/2028

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response.  Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.

Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.

For the NAICS code

Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business.  See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.

If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement. 

If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.

Please provide a letter of authorization from the manufacturer showing the relationship as an authorized reseller

Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.

Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section. 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE/DUE DATE FOR RESPONSES

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 9, 2026.  Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future. 

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. 

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice. 

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.