26-GXM-0054_SAP NonComp_Redacted.pdf

This is a Memorandum to the File documenting the justification for using other than full and open competition for a simplified acquisition under the federal acquisition threshold.

The acquisition concerns a Service Contract for an FEI Helios G4 UX Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)/Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to be provided by FEI Company, located in Hillsboro, Oregon. The CAGE code is 1FJ95. The contracting officer, Morgan Helton, approved the procurement on March 12, 2026, with technical certification dated February 25, 2026. The memorandum justifies limiting competition to a single source under the "Only One Responsible Source" category, citing three primary rationales: FEI Company's proprietary rights and exclusive possession of technical drawings, procedures, and software updates necessary for timely instrument maintenance; exclusive licensing agreements and the company's status as the original equipment manufacturer; and the company's unique capabilities including trained technical personnel, proprietary data, schematics, and stockpiled repair parts critical to maintaining equipment operability. The justification emphasizes that purchasing from alternative vendors would cost substantially more than acquiring new equipment and would cause work stoppage in government testing operations. The total dollar value of the contract is redacted from the document.