Sources Sought Notice for 500-kip Compression Testing Frame

Notice ID Number 1333ND-26-01127

Title: Sources Sought Notice for an 500-kip Compression Testing Frame

Department of Commerce -NIST Purchase Request Number: NB731080-26-01227

The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs. NIST encourages responses from all capable sources, including small businesses, to inform acquisition strategy and promote competition.

NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

BACKGROUND

The Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD), within the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), serves as a world-class resource for developing and promoting science-based tools—including measurements, data, models, protocols, and reference standards—to advance the global competitiveness of U.S. industry through innovations in building materials and construction technology, while enhancing the safety, security, and sustainability of the Nation's buildings and physical infrastructure.

To support these mission objectives, MSSD requires a commercially available 500-kip automatic compression testing system with a fully integrated laser extensometer for conducting concrete materials testing. The system must be capable of performing compression, flexural, splitting tensile, and modulus of elasticity/Poisson's ratio testing in accordance with applicable ASTM standards. Integration of the laser extensometer with the testing machine's controls and data acquisition system is a minimum technical requirement to ensure accurate measurements, seamless system operation, and reliable data collection.

Accordingly, the contractor shall furnish and deliver one (1) commercially available 500-kip automatic compression testing system equipped with a fully integrated laser extensometer and all associated hardware, software, and accessories necessary to perform the required testing in accordance with the Requirements Document.

Specifications:

The respondent shall furnish and deliver one (1) commercially available 500-kip automatic compression testing system equipped with a fully integrated laser extensometer and all associated hardware, software, and accessories necessary to perform the required testing in accordance with the Requirements Document, and shall be delivered to the NIST Gaithersburg campus.

1. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The respondent shall provide a system/product that meets all technical specifications identified below. All items must be new.  The use of “gray market” components are not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Contractor is not acceptable.   All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

LINE ITEM 0001:

DESCRIPTION: 500 Kip Automatic Compression Testing Machine

QUANTITY: 1 EACH

1. The machine must have a VFD Control system and must be able to connect to the standard 115 VAC -15A/20A circuit.

1. All necessary platen fixtures to perform Compression (2”x2” cubes, 3”x6” cores/cylinders, 4”x8” cylinders, 6”x12” cylinders), Flexural, Modulus of Elasticity/Poisson's Ratio (MP) (4”x8” cylinders), Tensile Splitting – 4”x8” and 6”x12” cylinders. Platen Hardness of 60 HRC is required.

1. Due to space availability within the lab, the compression machine must meet the following dimensions and weight (for handling):

  Overall Width:  less than or equal 36”,

                                Overall Depth:  less than or equal 24”,

                                Overall Height: less than or equal 72”.

                                Weight less than 1,750 lbs. 

1. The machine needs to have displacement control option and a minimum piston stroke of 2”. 

1. Vertical Opening: minimum 18 in; Horizontal opening: minimum 12”; Minimum Lower Platen Dimension 10” x 14”.

1. The compression testing machine shall be warranted for a minimum of 12 months from installation.

LINE ITEM 0002:
DESCRIPTION: LASER EXTENSOMETER
QUANTITY: 1 EACH

Technology: Non-contact, high-speed laser-based optical extensometer using a conventional entocentric lens system.

Optics Package: Specifically configured for a 350 mm Field of View (FOV) to accommodate large specimen deformations and various gauge lengths.

Measurement Range: Minimum displacement range of 350 mm (total FOV) with high-resolution digital imaging.

Accuracy: Must meet or exceed ASTM E83 Class B-1 and ISO 9513 Class 0,5 accuracy requirements over the full measurement range.

Data Integration: Must be fully integrated with the compression frame’s data acquisition system for real-time strain-controlled testing and synchronous data logging.

Working Distance: Optimized for a minimum working distance of approximately 400 mm from the specimen to ensure safety and clearance within the load frame.

Resolution: Capable of measuring strain with a resolution of at least 0.5 microns or better.

Compatibility: Must include all necessary mounting hardware, illumination, and cabling to interface with the VFD control system specified in the basic requirements. Universal Servo hydraulic Mounting System – for installation onto 4” diameter cylindrical column so that it can be used on existing MTS frame.

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 in this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice, July 17, 2026 at 12:00PM ET.  Please note that to be considered for award under any official solicitation, the entity must be registered and “active” in SAM at the time of solicitation response.

• 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).

• Identify the equipment that your company sells that can meet the objectives addressed in the BACKGROUND section of this notice.  For each product recommended to meet the Government’s requirement, provide the following:
  • Manufacturer name
  • Model number
  • Technical specifications
  • If your company is not the manufacturer, provide information on your company’s status as an authorized reseller of the product(s)

• Describe performance capabilities of the product(s) your company recommends to meet the Government’s requirements.  Additionally, if there are other features or functions that you believe would assist NIST in meeting its objectives described above, please discuss in your response.
  • Discuss whether the equipment that your company sells and which you describe in your response to this notice may be customized to specifications and indicate any limits to customization.

• Identify any aspects of the NIST market research notice, including instructions, and draft minimum specifications in the BACKGROUND section you cannot meet and state why.  Please offer suggestions for how the market research notice and draft minimum specifications could be made more competitive.

• State whether the proposed equipment is manufactured in the United States and, if not, state the name of the country where the equipment is manufactured.

• Identify any plans/possibilities for changes in manufacturing location of the aforementioned equipment and provide relevant details, including timeline.

• For the NAICS code listed in this notice:

• • 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. 

• Describe services that are available with the purchase of the aforementioned equipment from your company such as installation, training, and equipment maintenance.

• Describe standard terms and conditions of sale offered by your company for the recommended equipment such as: delivery time after your company accepts the order; FOB shipping terms; manufacturer warranty (including details regarding nature and duration); if available, description(s) of available extended warranty; equipment setup and test; operator and service instruction manual(s); cleanup after installation; and if applicable, other offered services.  Provide a copy of manufacturer standard terms and conditions that typically relate to the sale of the specified equipment, if available.

• State whether your company offers facility renovation services related to installation of the recommended equipment at its delivery destination, if required per the NIST-identified minimum specifications, and provide description of said services.  Indicate if your company performs the facility renovation services or typically subcontracts the work to another company.  Indicate if your company would be interested in inspecting the intended installation site during the market research phase.

• State published price, discount, or rebate arrangements for recommended equipment and/or provide link to access company’s published prices for equipment and services. 

• If the recommended equipment and related services are available for purchase on any existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts against which NIST may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Identify any customers in the public or private sectors to which you provided the recommended or similar equipment.  Include customer(s) information: company name, phone number, point of contact, email address.

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

• State if you require NIST to provide additional information to improve your understanding of the government’s requirement and/or would like to meet with NIST representatives to discuss the requirement and the capabilities of the identified equipment.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

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 with sufficient time to provide a response, preferably by  [July 14, 2026]. If the Contracting Officer determines that providing a written amendment to this notice to document question(s) received would benefit other potential respondents, the questions would be anonymized, and a written response to such question(s) would be provided via an amendment to this notice.

IMPORTANT NOTES

This notice is for market research purposes and should not be construed as a commitment by NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  There is no solicitation available at this time.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

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

Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s capability.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

After a review of the responses received, a synopsis and solicitation may be published on GSA’s eBuy or SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered an adequate response to any such solicitation(s).

The responses shall not exceed [5] pages including all attachments, charts, etc.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!