Solicitation_SEM-EDX_FA700026Q0064_A1.pdf

FA700026Q0064 | USAFA Tabletop SEM with EDS

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS)

U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) | Solicitation: FA700026Q0064 Amendment 1 — 20 August 2026

SOLICITATION METADATA

Solicitation Number FA700026Q0064

Document Type Combined Synopsis / Solicitation (RFQ)

Acquisition Type Full and Open Competition (Unrestricted)

NAICS Code 334516 — Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (Size Standard:

1,000 Employees)

Product Service Code (PSC) 6650 — Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components and Accessories

Issuing Office 10th Contracting Squadron, USAFA, CO 80840

Response Deadline 27 August 2026, 10:00 A.M. MDT

Primary Points of Contact Mr. Ronald Wilson (ronald.wilson.26@us.af.mil) Ms. Mikayla Brandt (mikayla.brandt@us.af.mil)

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Description of Requirement

1.1 Salient Characteristics

2. Contract Structure & Schedule

3. Delivery, Inspection, and Acceptance

4. Instructions to Offerors

4.1 Addendum to RFO 52.212-1

5. Evaluation Factors for Award

5.1 Addendum to RFO 52.212-2

6. Provisions and Clauses

6.1 52.222-90 Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors (2026-04) (DEVIATION) ....... Error!

Bookmark not defined.

6.2 Elimination of Use of Class I Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.

6.3 Ombudsman

7. Attachments to this Solicitation

Notice to Offeror(s)/Supplier(s):

Funds are not presently available for this effort. No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a proposal.

1. Description of Requirement This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with (IAW) Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation number FA700026Q0064 is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ) for a Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) IAW Salient Characteristics at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).

1.1 Salient Characteristics

Any proposed solution must meet the following minimum salient characteristics:

System Design and Footprint

• System Type: Benchtop/Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with fully integrated Energy

Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) system.

• Weight & Footprint: Compact design suitable for standard laboratory counters. Weight of the entire system must not exceed 200 lbs.

• Power Requirements: Must operate on standard 110VAC electrical power without requiring dedicated facility modifications or specialized infrastructure.

• Power Backup: Must include a compatible Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).

• Vacuum System: Must include necessary vacuum pumps to achieve both high (0.1 Pa or better) and low (up to 100 Pa) vacuum environments, requiring minimal user maintenance.

Electron Optics and Imaging

• Electron Source: Cerium Hexaboride (CeB6) source. The source must have a minimum expected lifetime of >3,000 hours.

• Accelerating Voltage: Capable of an accelerating voltage range of 1.5 kV to 20.5 kV.

• Magnification: Maximum magnification of at least 350,000x.

• Detectors: Must include simultaneous High-performance Backscattered Electron (BSE/BSD) and

Secondary Electron (SE/SED) detectors.

• Automation: Auto-focus, auto-stigmator, auto-brightness, and auto-gun alignment must be included as standard features.

• Optical Navigation: Integrated color microscope camera correlated with the electron image for interactive, point-of-view navigation.

Sample Manipulation

• Stage: Motorized X and Y stage.

• Sample Holders: Standard removable sample holder and charge reduction sample holder. Must include a standard sample preparation starter kit.

Elemental Analysis (EDS) Capabilities

• Detector Type: Fully integrated Silicon Drift Detector (SDD).

• Functionality: Capable of real-time, live-image elemental mapping (pixel-by-pixel analysis) supporting qualitative and quantitative analysis (point, line-scan, regional mapping).

• Software: Software must provide background quantification of signals to accurately differentiate elemental phases.

Software and Computing Hardware

• Computer Workstation: Included PC workstation and monitor (minimum 24-inch) running a standard operating system with pre-installed SEM/EDS imaging and analysis software.

• Peripherals: Must include keyboard and mouse.

• Advanced Imaging Software: Must include software capable of advanced image mapping and image stitching.

Services and Warranty

• Installation & Training: On-site system installation and comprehensive user training must be included.

• Warranty: Minimum 1-year (or better) standard warranty.

2. Contract Structure & Schedule The contract type will be a firm-fixed price contract. Payment terms are Net 30. All CLINs are Firm-Fixed- Price (FFP).

CLIN Description Qty Unit Unit Price

(USD)

Total CLIN Price

(USD)

0001 Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with EDS IAW Salient Characteristics

1 Each $ [Quoter to Fill]

$ [Quoter to Fill]

TOTAL CONTRACT PRICE $ [Quoter to Fill]

GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Government will not consider any quotes that contain used, reconditioned, refurbished, gray market, or liquidated stock.

Note: The Government will not provide IUID labeling.

3. Delivery, Inspection, and Acceptance Delivery must be F.O.B. Destination to United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840. Offerors are encouraged to propose their best and most realistic delivery schedule.

F.O.B. Destination (defined in RFO 2.101) means the seller or consignor is responsible for the cost of shipping and risk of loss.

Tariff Note: If a tariff must be paid, the vendor shall state the country and tariff percentage rate with the quote submission. Tariffs must be included with the total price amount, not be a separate line item.

The Government will inspect the system upon delivery. Upon passing the inspection, the Government will accept the product at the Government’s location, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840. Payment on invoices cannot be made until the Government has accepted the product. The contract/purchase order number must be included when shipping supplies.

4. Instructions to Offerors This Solicitation is being issued in accordance with (IAW) RFO Part 12 as a request for Quote.

In all instances throughout this solicitation any use of the word “proposal” should be understood as “quote”. All instances of the word “offeror” should be understood as “quoter”. Quotes supplied in response to this solicitation are not binding. Award of this requirement may be offered to the Quoter IAW 52.212-2, found herein.

Read the instructions in RFO 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, the addenda listed below, and instructions within this combined synopsis/solicitation and comply with all requirements for submitting a quote. Failure to comply with all instructions contained within this synopsis/solicitation could result in the quote being ineligible for award.

The provision at RFO 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jan 2026), and the addendum below applies to this acquisition.

4.1 Addendum to RFO 52.212-1

Addendum to RFO 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Feb 2026) is tailored to include the following:

• Submission of Quotes: Submit signed and dated offers via email to Mr. Ronald Wilson (ronald.wilson.26@us.af.mil) and Ms. Mikayla Brandt (mikayla.brandt@us.af.mil) no later than 27 Aug 2026 10:00 A.M. MDT.

• Minimum Offer Requirements: At a minimum, offers shall include:

• (1) The solicitation number;

• (2) The name, address, and telephone number of the Offeror;

• (3) The Offeror’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and, if applicable, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator;

• (4) Information necessary to evaluate the factors contained in the provision at R-DFARS 252.225-7034 or as described below;

• (5) Size of business;

• (6) Responses to provisions that require Offeror completion of information, representations, and certifications (other than those collected via the System for Award Management (SAM));

• (7) A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation and any solicitation amendments;

• (8) Period for acceptance of offers: The Offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm until 30

September 2026;

• (9) Buy American Statute: For any quoted supplies it is USAFA’s preference/intent to acquire only domestic end products per the Buy American Statute (41 USC Chapter 83), except as provided in RFO 25.103. Foreign offers will be evaluated IAW R-DFARS 225.502 when comparing domestic and foreign offers. This requirement is for commercial items; therefore, the manufacturing country of origin will determine if the quoted product is foreign or domestic. The Buy American – Balance of Payments Program Certificate (R-DFARS 252.225-7000), Attachment 02 - Buy_American_Certificate R-DFARS 252.225-7034, must be completed and submitted with the quote.

• Contract Award: RFO 52.212-1(d) is amended as follows: The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without interchanges with quoters. Therefore, the initial quote should contain the Offeror’s best terms. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions, if deemed necessary by the Contracting Officer, with one, some, none, or all quoters.

• Formal Communications: Requests for clarification and information concerning the solicitation must be provided in writing via email no later than 24 Aug 2026, 10:00 A.M. MDT. Answers will be compiled and posted electronically to the SAM.gov website: https://sam.gov/. Questions may be emailed to the points of contact listed above. All correspondence should reference the solicitation number.

• Specific Quotation Preparation Instructions: Quotes shall consist of three parts, as identified below:

• Part 1 – Technical: Submit technical capability IAW Salient Characteristics as well as anticipated delivery schedule and warranty information. The warranty shall include remedies for any installed parts and labor. A warranty that provides for a longer period of coverage, more comprehensive remedies, and is consistent with or exceeds customary commercial practice may be considered more favorable.

• Part 2 – Past Performance Information: The Government will assess the offeror’s record of recent and relevant performance. The Government will review SPRS and CPARS. Offerors do not need to provide their own past contracts or past performance information.

• Part 3 – Price Quote: Price quotes must be firm-fixed priced. The Government will not provide contract financing for this acquisition.

EMAIL SUBMISSION WARNING

Any email over 10MB and/or zip files are not an acceptable format for the Air Force Network and will not go through our email system.

5. Evaluation Factors for Award The provision at RFO 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Feb 2026), and the addendum listed below applies to this acquisition.

5.1 Addendum to RFO 52.212-2

• Evaluation Factors: RFO 52.212-2(a) is amended as follows: The Government will submit an offer in the form of a purchase order to the quoter that represents the best value to the Government. All quotes submitted will be reviewed for completeness. Quotes that are incomplete or missing information may be excluded from the evaluation. The Government will select the awardee that represents the best value based on price, technical (based on salient characteristics to include applicable descriptive literature), and past performance based on sam.gov, SPRS, and CPARS.

Technical Capability and Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than Price. The Government may award to a higher-priced offeror if its proposal is technically superior and demonstrates a lower performance risk.

• Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS): IAW Class Deviation 2026-O0043 – RFO Part 4, Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) Part 204, the provision at DFARS 252.204-7024 Notice on the Use of the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) applies and SPRS will be utilized.

• Options: RFO 52.212-2(b) is not applicable.

• Notice of Award: RFO 52.212-2(c) is amended as follows: The Government will submit an offer in the form of a purchase order to the selected quoter. A binding contract is formed when the supplier accepts the Government’s offer, either by written acceptance of the purchase order or substantial performance of the purchase order. The Contracting Officer may request that the contractor provide written acceptance of the order.

6. Provisions and Clauses Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating do not apply to this acquisition.

RFO and R-DFARS Provisions and Clauses: (See provision and clause attachment for further details) (Attachment 1)

NOTE ON CONFLICTING TERMS: The vendor acknowledges that should the quote terms and conditions conflict with mandatory provisions of the RFO and/or other Federal law applicable to commercial acquisitions, the conflicting vendor terms and conditions are unenforceable and are not considered incorporated into any resultant contract.

6.3 Ombudsman

(a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the interested party to another official who can resolve the concern.

(b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions).

(c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, the interested party may contact the ombudsman, Mr.

James Anderson, 8110 Industrial Drive, STE 103, USAFA, CO 80840, Telephone number 719-333-2074, FAX 719- 333-9018, Email: james.anderson.72@us.af.mil. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the Center/MAJCOM/DRU/SMC ombudsman level, may be brought by the interested party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (571) 256-2395, facsimile number

(571) 256-2431.

(d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.

(e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the contracting officer.

7. Attachments to this Solicitation

• Attachment 01 - Provisions and Clauses

• Attachment 02 - Buy_American_Certificate R-DFARS 252.225-7034