Attachment 2 - Brand Name - Excitation Laser_Redacted.pdf

This is a Determination & Findings document for a sole source acquisition by the USAF Academy, 10 CONS/PKB. The procurement is a firm-fixed-price purchase order for a brand-name nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG laser system to serve as an excitation source for an existing laboratory spectrometer. The laser must meet specific technical requirements including compatibility with the Edinburgh Instruments LP980 spectrometer, pulse energies of at least 850 mJ at 1064 nm, 430 mJ at 532 nm, and 230 mJ at 355 nm, a 10 Hz pulse repetition rate, 3-6 ns pulse durations, 8-10 mm beam diameter, detachable harmonic generation modules, wavelength separation optics, beam dump, attenuator, flashlamp with 100 million shot warranty, water-to-air cooling, and 110V power requirement.

The justification for sole source procurement is based on RFO 11.204(a)(2)(ii) (Brand Name), as market research determined that only the Quantel Q-smart 850 meets all government requirements and performance specifications. The document details extensive market research findings comparing the Quantel system against multiple competitor alternatives, all of which were found technically unacceptable due to deficiencies in power output, compatibility with existing lab infrastructure, software integration, manual versus automated tuning capabilities, or power supply requirements. The procurement is justified under the rationale that the nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is essential for cadet and faculty research, and procuring any alternative system would severely impact the Academy's academic mission by introducing operational complexity, timing errors, and facility modifications. The Contracting Officer serves as the approval authority for this determination.