Sigma_SSJ_Redacted.pdf

This is a Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification document for simplified procedures regarding a commercial item acquisition. The contracting activity is AFSC/PZIMB located at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, with the program/project identified as SIGMA SEM Replacement. The acquisition authorizes a one-time, sole source, commercial firm fixed-price (FFP) negotiated action to procure one Zeiss Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC. The funding level falls between $750,000 and $15 million, with an estimated delivery of seven months after receipt of order (ARO). The contract type is operational and the justification type is classified as individual.

The acquisition requires furnishing, shipping, assembling, installing, verification, calibration, testing, and training for the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and accessories for use in the Metallurgical Lab at Tinker Air Force Base. The FESEM must support first article testing, production support, prototypes, reverse engineering, failure analysis, and mishap investigations with sufficient resolution, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and reproducibility. Market research using Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) and System for Award Management (SAM) databases confirmed that Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC was the only capable source to meet the technical requirements specified in the Statement of Work. The justification cites the unique patented holder technology for correlative microscopy and the Oxford sub-assembly detector system for qualitative chemical analysis and crystallographic mapping on metal alloys as distinguishing characteristics available only from Zeiss. The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and 10 U.S.C. 2302(b) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 and DAFFARS 5313.501.