Aerotech Motion Controller

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

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intend to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with Aerotech Inc. (UEI: HLW7BPRWMK16), located at 101 Zeta Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15238. The purchase order will specifically replace an existing legacy Aerotech A3200 controller with a modern, hardware-based Aerotech motion controller to ensure continued, reliable operation of the NIST Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT).

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 12.102(a) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 335314 - Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 750 Employees.

Description
The Production Systems Group (PSG) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts research in metals-based additive manufacturing to advance measurement science and enable robust, industrially relevant manufacturing processes. As part of this mission, PSG operates the Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT), a highly customized laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) research platform. AMMT is built on an Aerotech motion control platform procured in 2015, including an A3200 motion controller that drives four permanently integrated Aerotech linear stages for powder recoating, powder dispensing, build plate positioning, and carriage motion. The A3200 controller has reached end of support and is no longer compatible with current operating systems or real-time performance requirements.

Sole Source Determination
The sole source determination is based on the following:

The Production Systems Group (PSG) requires a hardware-based, high-speed, programmable motion control system to upgrade the existing controller for the Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT), which supports laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) research. AMMT operations depend on precise, deterministic motion for powder recoating, laser scanning, and layer-by-layer solidification. The current control system, based on the Aerotech A3200 platform procured in 2015, is outdated and requires replacement.

Aerotech control systems are proprietary. Maintaining compatibility with the existing Aerotech-based system is essential to avoid significant redevelopment, requalification, and disruption to mission-critical research. Aerotech has confirmed that the required controller is available only directly from itself, the manufacturer, and there are no authorized resellers. No other vendor can meet these requirements without introducing unacceptable technical risks.

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Collin Randall, Contract Specialist, at Collin.Randall@nist.gov and Lauren Roller, Contract Officer, at lauren.roller@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to Collin.Randall@nist.gov and lauren.roller@nist.gov so that they are received no later than April 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Eastern Time.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor SAM Universal Entity Identifier (UEI)
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement