**The MPC appreciates your patience over the past several weeks. We have returned to operation and are currently filling requests for materials and services without delay.**
Questions about MPC services or capabilities? E-mail us.
Submitting a request for service? Use our online form.
Need vendor info? Get it here.
Please also review our Terms & Conditions, below.
Terms & Conditions
Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP)
Access to materials/alloy services from the MPC is conducted through the U.S. Department of Energy's Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP) channel. SPP projects are performed under the direction of and fully funded by the requesting party, on a best effort and cost-recovery basis.
Requesting an estimate for SPP project costs
Requests for materials or services should be submitted through our online form. No formal proposal is required. Provide as much information as possible concerning your project requirements. The MPC will provide a cost estimate outlining the scope of work to be provided and the anticipated expenses for said services. The MPC is not a commercial vendor; we do not have a catalog or a price schedule. All SPP work is performed on a best effort (see warranty and specifications below) and cost-recovery basis.
Warranty
No Warranty. All implied warranties are hereby disclaimed. Neither the Government, the Department, nor the Contractor make any warranty, express or implied a) that material will be delivered or services performed at a specified time, b) that material accepted for technical or analytical services will not be destroyed, damaged, lost, or otherwise altered in physical or chemical properties in the process of performing the requested technical or analytical service, c) with respect to the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information furnished hereunder, d) that the use of any such information may not infringe privately owned rights, e) that the services, material or information furnished hereunder will not result in injury or damage when used for any purpose or are safe for any purpose including the intended purpose, and f) that the services, material, or information furnished hereunder will accomplish the intended results.
Specifications
All work is performed on a best-effort basis. Requests requiring, but not limited to, fabrication, alloying or combining of elements, heat-treatment, or other mechanical or metallurgical processes are conducted with no guarantee that specifications will be precisely satisfied. All work is performed on a best-effort basis. MPC provides research services, not a product, and said research services may not result in the originally intended end.
Vendor Information Form
MPC's vendor information form provides DUNS, CAGE, and accounting contact information for clients' purchasing system.
SPP Access Mechanisms
Domestic companies, universities, and individuals may access services or acquire materials from the MPC under the following conditions. A checkoff box attesting to these provisions will be included in our technical service form, provided with each quotation.
- To the best of your knowledge materials of this type and quality cannot be obtained from a commercial supplier, or;
- To the best of your knowledge services of this type and quality cannot be obtained from a commercial source, and;
- The materials will not be resold. If you intend to add value to the product or service this criteria has been met.
Companies, universities, and individuals based in the United States may access SPP services or materials from the MPC via a standard purchase order agreement. All work is performed on a best-effort basis. Confidentiality agreements can be executed for work of a proprietary nature.
For Domestic Non-profit Organizations or Small business Enterprises which qualify as a "Small Business Enterprise," as defined in 13 C.F.R., Part 121, or a "Nonprofit Organization," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 501 and 503, there is a waiver of DOE overhead costs available.
Domestic SPP Requests
- Purchase Order (Net 30 days)
- FOB Destination
- Payment by Check
- Payment by Wire Transfer
- Credit card payment is not available
Foreign SPP Requests (Prepayment Required):
Foreign companies universities, and individuals may access services or acquire materials from the MPC under the following conditions:
- The subject of the WFO is not restricted by the U.S. Export Control Laws.
- To the best of your knowledge, materials of this type and quality cannot be obtained from a commercial supplier, or;
- To the best of your knowledge services of this type and quality cannot be obtained from a commercial source, and;
- The materials will not be resold. If you intend to "add value" to the product or service this criteria has been met.
- Payment for the material accompanies your order. This is required for the MPC to remain in compliance with our contractual agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Payment by check: checks are to be made payable to Ames Laboratory. If the check is drawn on a non-U.S. bank, please add 2% to the total costs for bank service charges.
- Payment by wire transfer-- We require that any transfer costs assessed by your bank be paid by you at the time of transfer. An additional $20.00 should be added to our quotation cost; this sum is a typical charge by our bank for wire transfers.
- Credit card payment is not available.
Publication
MPC operations are underwritten by the U.S. Department of Energy's Basic Energy Sciences. Acknowledgement of the use of MPC facilities/services is expected in publications or research reports, as is the assistance of specific MPC Technical Staff members if their work has made a significant contribution to our research.
Acknowledgement by bibliographic citation is preferred: "Materials Preparation Center, Ames Laboratory, US DOE Basic Energy Sciences, Ames, IA, USA"
Alternatively, reference in experimental or procedure sections: "...acquired from the Materials Preparation Center at Ames Laboratory, which is supported by the US DOE Basic Energy Sciences."
We would appreciate receiving a copy of publications that cite said use.