Axios Observer BNL_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

OKLAHOMA CITY AIR LOGISTICS COMPLEX

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE OKLAHOMA

22 June 2022

MEMORANDUM FOR AFSC/PZIM Contracting Officer

FROM:

SUBJECT: Brand Name for Zeiss Axio Observer 5 Metallograph

1. The metallograph is a microscope that is used to inspect metallurgical/material microstructures of aerospace parts and coatings in support of first articles, failure analyses, and reverse engineering. Nearly all workflow within the 76 MXSS Materials Lab requires microstructural evaluation, and this work is critical for qualifying aerospace parts and help identify root causes of failures. This microscope allows the government to identify features and use advanced analytical techniques (including correlational microscopy) with a scanning electron microscopes and stereoscope in order to inspect and evaluate micron size defects and anomalies.

2. The Materials Lab must have the ability to access, open, and manipulate previous data files that have been retained for the past 10 years for first article rebuttal, safety critical mishap investigations, and thermal spray evaluations. In order to accomplish its mission, interoperability between hardware and software with the existing Zeiss metallographs, scanning electron microscopes, and stereomicroscopes used by the lab is required. This capability is made possible by the correlative microscopy between existing scanning electron microscopes and existing stereomicroscopes and is an ongoing requirement for lab analyses (76MXSS SOP 61-EM-001).

Due to proprietary data, only Zeiss Brand equipment can provide the required interoperability and the ability to access, open, and manipulate old data files.

3. Therefore, it is requested that Zeiss Brand Name equipment be procured to meet all the requirements of the program office and subsequently the warfighter.

4. Market research was performed reviewing Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) and System for Award Management (SAM) databases using North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code (333310) looking for companies that could provide Zeiss Axio Observer 5 Metallograph. A review of small businesses to include 8(a), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, and Women Owned Small Business was conducted in search of a company that could provide Zeiss Axio Observer 5 Metallograph. RFQ#1560805 was posted to GSA EBuy. Additional external market research found two authorized distributors of Zeiss brand name equipment with 1 ROM received. Due to the requirement for Zeiss proprietary software, the government cannot avoid brand name procurement at this time. However, the government will be able to keep procurement competitive due to authorized resellers and distributors of Zeiss brand name equipment.

5. Point of contact for this memorandum is or e-mail at