NOTICE OF INTENT TO NONCOMPETITIVELY ACQUIRE CHIPS AFM THERMOCOUPLE STHM MODULE

Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire CHIPS AFM Thermocouple SThM module

This notice is not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) is one of seven metrology laboratories within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The laboratory supports the NIST mission by serving as the national reference laboratory for measurements in the material sciences to include the CHIPS Metrology Program. The Nanoscale Mechanical Properties Group requires the acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) application module for Thermocouple Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM). This module, which provides direct measurement of local variations in temperature and thermal conductivity at the nanoscale, is essential to our CHIPS project focused on mapping nanoscale to microscale thermal mechanical properties of materials used in advanced packaging. This capability directly supports the third Grand Challenge of the CHIPS R&D Metrology Program to advance semiconductor manufacturing by enabling metrology for integrated components in advanced packaging. By providing a comprehensive and detail understanding of material properties, specifically how local variations in temperature affect or not the mechanical properties, this investment will provide needed predictive capabilities for material selection and enable innovation in advanced packaging, benefiting the semiconductor industry and quality of life through improved performance and product reliability.

NIST conducted market research in since November 2024 by internet research, GSA advantage searches, SAM.gov searches, speaking with colleagues/ other professionals in the field, and review of company websites. In additions to these searches, source sought posting NIST-FY25-CHIPS-0072 was issued to SAM.gov from March 4, 2025 through March 18, 2025. This research determined that only Applied Nanostructures, Inc., 415 CLYDE AVE, STE 102, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043-2230 USA is capable of providing a product that meets all the technical requirements to include the key requirements of:

• a thermocouple AFM probe that provides direct measurement of the local temperature of the sample
• compatible with the existing Vero AFM hardware, which includes the sample stage and probe holder.

However, any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier number in https://sam.gov; 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; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied.