Sole_Source_JA__FA875119PA184_High_Numerical_Aperture_Microscope_redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE / BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

<$150,000

1. Contracting Activity.

a. Requiring Activity: AFRL/RITC, David Hucul, 315-330-4298

b. Contracting Activity: AFRL/RIKO, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome NY 13441

c. Purchase Request #: F4HBL19199A005

2. Nature and/or Description of Action.

a. Description of Requirement: Procurement of high numerical aperture microscope objectives

b. Sole source company:

Photon Gear, Inc.

245 David Parkway

Ontario, NY 14519

Gary Blough

President, Photon Gear blough@photongear.com

3. Description of Supplies or Service.

The estimated total is $80,270. The objective must have a numerical aperture of 0.6 and be mode matched to an optical fiber with numerical aperture 0.092 as defined by the 1/e^2 intensity distribution: NA = waist / Rayleigh range.

The objective must be designed to work with the following distances for compatibility with equipment: distance from ion to glass: 11 mm. glass thickness: 4 mm. distance from glass to objective: 2.75 mm. The objective diameter should not exceed 60 mm. The rms OPD at 455 nm should be no larger than 0.08 waves rms. The rms OPD at 493 nm and 650 nm should be no larger than

0.072 waves rms.

4. Statutory Authority. 10 USC 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1.

Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

5. Justification or Authority for Action.

Photon Gear is the only known manufacturer of the product an objective that can satisfy the requirements listed in section 3 above. The ability of the objective to have high numerical aperture with a working distance of 11 mm and have to the output image be mode matched to an optical fiber is unique to

Photon Gear. This company has been shown to produce such products for different wavelengths of light that have been successfully deployed in quantum networks at the University of Maryland and Duke. If these objectives are not procured from Photon Gear, there will be significant technical capability degradation to the future experiments of the lab, potentially causing the inability to meet yearly program milestones.

6. Efforts Made to Ensure Offers are Solicited from as many Sources as

Practicable. A Notice of Proposed Contract Action (NOCA) in the form of a

Pre-Solicitation Notice outlining the Government’s intent to award a sole-source contract for the required items directly to Photon Gear Inc. was posted to the FedBizOpps website between 22 Aug 2019 and 6 Sep 2019. No responses were received to the NOCA to indicate that any other source was interested in or capable of fulfilling the Government’s requirement.

7. The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(iii) Current price lists, catalogs, or advertisements, and FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii) Comparison of proposed price with prices found fair and reasonable on previous purchases of the same or similar items in the same industry.

8. Market Research/Other facts. The Government estimate is based on a quotation by Photon Gear Inc. for microscope objectives in the amount of

$80,270. This informational quote was obtained by AFRL for budgetary purposes.

No other known producer/manufacturer is capable of meeting the given specifications and no other system is compatible. Other companies that provide microscope objectives cannot meet the requirements listed in section 3.

Example companies include microscope objectives offered by Thorlabs and

Edmunds Optics.

9. Any other facts supporting Other than Full and Open Competition.

None.

10. List of Sources that have Expressed in Writing an Interest in the

Procurement.

Photon Gear Inc.

11. Statement of Actions to Remove/Overcome Barriers to Competition. AFRL/RITC will continue to research the performance and capabilities of similar products towards future requirements. Any company that offers a product which meets the required specifications will be considered for procurement.

12. Contracting Officer’s Certification. The contracting officer’s signature below evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

13. Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification. As evidenced by their signature below, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is their responsibility, is both accurate and complete.

David Hucul

Senior Physics Researcher

APPROVED / DISAPPROVED

Cody F. Owens

CONTRACTING OFFICER