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The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology serves the nation's central measurement laboratory on behalf of U.S. industry and science. Among its other responsibilities, NIST develops the measurement methods, standards, and testing procedures that serve as the fundamental scientific underpinning to many of the nation's critical technologies, including semiconductor electronics, manufacturing engineering, advanced materials, biotechnology, and information technology. NIST's mission requires it to perform world-class research, which requires world-class laboratories. NIST's outdated and deteriorating laboratory facilities are undermining its ability to promote U.S. economic growth and international competitiveness. The principal problem is a lack of high-quality laboratory environments. In order for NIST scientists to reliably and efficiently conduct technologically advanced research and to perform precision measurements, NIST facilities must meet exacting requirements in the areas of: vibration isolation, temperature and humidity control, air cleanliness, and electrical power quality.
Some progress has been made on the NIST Gaithersburg campus through the construction and occupancy of the new Advanced Chemical Sciences Laboratory (ACSL) which features substantially better laboratory environments than NIST's current laboratory facilities; however the ACSL does not provide the very tight environmental conditions required by NIST's most technically demanding programs.
NIST has performed numerous facilities assessments and scientific needs studies since its 1991 long-term facilities plan was issued and approved. Findings indicate that no currently existing building on the Gaithersburg or Boulder campuses or elsewhere can be retrofitted economically to the high levels of environmental control needed by NIST's most advanced research programs in physics, chemistry, electronics, materials science, and precision engineering.
In December 1993, NIST initiated a design project for a facility to address these requirements -- the Advanced Measurement Laboratory (AML) is the result. The AML advances the state-of-the-art in laboratory building environments in a scale unlike any other in the world. It will provide the laboratory conditions needed by NIST's most advanced programs, and will become part of a planned complex of new and renovated laboratory buildings.
Agency:
U.S. Department of Commerce
Technology Administration
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Purpose:
To provide advanced laboratory space for NIST critical, high-technology research programs needing laboratory space conditions which cannot be met through renovation of existing facilities. The proposed facility will provide improved air quality, close temperature control, low vibration, and improved electrical power quality.
Overview:
The proposed Advanced Measurement Laboratory (AML) will be one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the world. No existing laboratory combines the features of close temperature control, vibration isolation, air cleanliness, and power quality into a facility of this magnitude or importance. The AML consists of five building wings, each with one occupiable scientific level. Two metrology wings are below grade, two physical sciences wings and a cleanroom wing are located above grade. Environmental and space requirements for the building are based on extensive programmatic studies of NIST's most technically demanding scientific programs many of which directly or indirectly support US competitiveness. The building environmental requirements for programs slated for the AML cannot economically be met with renovated laboratory space; therefore, the AML is a necessity for NIST's continued, long-term support of US industrial competitiveness in the world market.
Schedule:
Design Update Period of approximately 9 months starting early FY 2000. Construction award in FY 2000 with building delivery approximately 44 months after notice to proceed issued to contractor. Fit-up and move in is expected to take approximately 12 months.
Documentation:
More than 900 drawing sheets and 4000 specification and schedule pages are necessary to document the project.
Site Selection:
Central to the NIST campus in a area cited for laboratory building construction in the NIST master plan. Primary contributing factor to site selection was the level of vibration measured at the site. The planned AML Complex will include the AML, and two existing General Purpose Laboratories planned for renovation.
Research:
Research projects in Vibration Isolation, Temperature Control, and in Architectural Concepts were conducted to verify the feasibility of proposed designs for the facility.
Project Size:
| Building Area: | 47,480 gross square meters (511,070 gross square feet) 19,537 net assignable square meters (210,295 net square feet) |
| Net to Gross Ratio: | 41.6% |
Gross Building Area Breakdown:
8,520 m2 - Cleanroom Wing
9,529 m2 - Instrument Lab (East)
11,858 m2 - Instrument Lab (West)
8,470 m2 - Dynamic Metrology Lab (East)
9,103 m2 - Quiet Metrology Lab (West)
Net Building Area Breakdown:
2,407 m2 - Offices
9,808 m2 - Laboratories
4,086 m2 - Laboratory Support
3,236 m2 - Building Support
Lab Types:
187 Instrument Lab Modules
151 Metrology Lab Modules
Specialty Areas:
48 Precision Temperature Control Laboratories (+/-0.01°C or +/- 0.1°C)
27 Low Vibration Laboratories (active and passive isolation systems)
8,520 gsm Cleanroom Facility (Class 100 upgradable to Class 10)
Lab General Areas:
Laboratories building-wide feature each of the critical environmental categories listed for the overall building, including:
NIST is strongly promoting small business, small-disadvantaged (8A), and women-owned contracting opportunities for the AML Construction Project. Potential prime contractors will be required to submit a subcontracting plan with aggressive subcontracting goals as part of their proposal and will be evaluated for their proposed use of these firms as a technical evaluation factor for contract award. This project will be competed in a full and open competition with the proposal period expected to begin late Spring 2000.
Or send an e-mail to: aml@nist.gov
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Contact: aml@nist.gov
Last Modified: February 7, 2000