Sources Sought: Robotic Manipulation, Teleoperation A.I. Platform

Notice ID Number 1333ND-26-01122 Title: Sources Sought Notice for a Robotic Manipulation, Teleoperation A.I. Platform Department of Commerce -NIST Purchase Request Number: NB735130-26-01122 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: NAICS 333249 – Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing BACKGROUND The Intelligent Systems Division (ISD) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts research on bimanual robotic manipulation using artificial intelligence (A.I.) and leader arm-follower arm teleoperation. The division requires a robotic manipulation platform that supports bimanual teleoperation data collection and A.I. model training using open-source software frameworks compatible with the Robot Operating System 2 (ROS), Humble or Jazzy. Existing NIST-owned software infrastructure and accumulated research datasets are built upon an open-source bimanual manipulation framework. The dataset for AI have been obtained through teleoperation. To ensure compatibility with this existing infrastructure and to enable immediate research deployment without extensive custom integration, the procured system must be natively compatible with the aforementioned NIST's current software environment (ROS2 Humble or Jazzy). Specifications: The respondent shall deliver (1) one, Robotic Manipulation, Teleoperation A.I. Platform which fulfills the minimum specification/requirements provided herein, and shall be delivered to the NIST Gaithersburg campus. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall provide a system that meets all technical specifications identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. 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: Robotic Manipulation, Teleoperation A.I. Platform Description: : The contractor shall provide a complete, pre-configured robotic system with the following specifications Quantity: One (1) Minimum Technical Specifications: Robotic Arms (4 Units): Four (4) robotic arms fully compatible with a bimanual manipulation framework. Two (2) units shall be follower arms, and two (2) units shall be leader arms. Each arm shall have a minimum of six (6) degrees of freedom (DOF). Two (2) leader arms shall have its own gripper for manipulation tasks. Control Workstation (1 Unit): One (1) high-performance desktop workstation PC capable of simultaneous control of two (2) follower robotic arms and communication with two (2) leader robotic arms for intensive A.I. model computation. The workstation shall include a dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU) with a minimum of 30 GB video random-access memory (VRAM) and AI platform suitable for real-time A.I. inference and model training. System Integration: The hardware must be provided as a tested, and pre-configured bundle to ensure component compatibility. The system shall be operational upon delivery without requiring additional hardware integration by Government personnel. Software Compatibility: The system must support open-source bimanual manipulation software frameworks and be compatible with the Robot Operating System 2 (ROS) environment, Humble or Jazzy. All necessary drivers and software development kits (SDKs) shall be included. 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...