GASTONII_Pre-Solicitation_Sole_Source_Notice_-_RFO_5.101(c).pdf

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF

INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE-SOURCE

CONTRACT

Prepared in Accordance with the

Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) (FAR

5.101(c))

PART I: SUBPART 5.1 MANDATORY PRESOLICITATION

CONTENT

The following table addresses each of the mandatory information elements required in a presolicitation notice posted to the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) via

SAM.gov in accordance with the overhauled RFO 5.101(c).

RFO 5.101(c) Citation Required Content Element

Agency Input / Response

5.101(c)(1) Point of Contact Primary Contact (Contract Specialist):

James Fey Email:

james.fey.1@us.af.mil

Secondary Contact (Contracting Officer):

Danny Austin Email:

danny.austin.3@us.af.mil

Office Address:

AMIC DET 2 OL

https://sam.gov/ mailto:james.fey.1@us.af.mil mailto:danny.austin.3@us.af.mil

1020 South Patrick Drive Patrick AFB, FL 32925-

5.101(c)(2) Set-Asides No set-aside is applicable.

This is a noncompetitive sole-source action under the authority of RFO 6.103-1 (Only one responsible source) as implemented by RFO 6.302-1.

5.101(c)(3) Codes for Services/Supplies

Product Service Code (PSC): H299 – Equipment and Materials Testing NAICS Code: 541380 – Services - Testing Laboratories

5.101(c)(4)(i) Description (Scope/Function)

See Part II for the detailed description of the Gas Analysis Services Technical Operations Need

(GASTON) IDIQ,

including routine sample analysis, R&D, and equipment maintenance.

5.101(c)(4)(ii) Procedures & Award Date (If value is >$25k to ≤SAT, or Commercial Part 12)

Not applicable. This acquisition is anticipated to exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT). The anticipated contract award date is 15 November 2027.

5.101(c)(4)(iii) Trade Agreements Statements

Not applicable.

5.101(c)(4)(iv) Technical Data Availability

Technical data required to respond to this notice is not currently furnished as part of this synopsis.

Prospective offerors may request technical coordination details by contacting the Points of Contact in 5.101(c)(1).

5.101(c)(4)(v) Equitable Adjustments (Construction)

Not applicable. This is a services and R&D acquisition, not a construction contract.

5.101(c)(4)(vi) Responsible Sources Statement

All responsible sources may submit a quotation, bid, or proposal, as appropriate, which will be considered by the agency. (See Part III for evaluation and submission criteria).

5.101(c)(4)(vii) Noncompetitive Source & Explanation

Intended Source: Linde Special Projects, LLC (also operating as Linde Services LLC / Linde LLC)

Rationale: See Part II, Section 2 for the detailed explanation of why Linde is the only responsible source capable of satisfying the agency's highly specialized nuclear treaty monitoring requirements under the GASTON program.

5.101(c)(4)(viii) Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for award, the offeror must:

1. Possess and maintain a US Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) Radioactive Materials License (or agreement state license/permit) for the processing facility.

2. Maintain a secure SECRET rated facility with personnel cleared for access to Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) and Restricted Data (RD).

PART II: DETAILED DESCRIPTION & SOLE-SOURCE

JUSTIFICATION

(Addresses RFO 5.101(c)(4)(i) & RFO 5.101(c)(4)(vii) — Noncompetitive Explanation)

1. Scope and Technical Description of Services/Supplies

The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), Nuclear Treaty Monitoring

(TT) Directorate, Patrick SFB, Florida, intends to solicit and negotiate a sole-source, follow-on IDIQ contract for the Gas Analysis Services Technical Operations Need

(GASTON) with Linde Special Projects, LLC for specialized Atmospheric Gas

Analysis Services.

Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) Structure:

• CLIN X001: Laboratory Analytical Services & Support – Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

• CLIN X002: Data & Reports – Not Separately Priced (NSP)

• CLIN X003: Research & Development – Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)

• CLIN X004: Other Direct Cost – Cost No Fee

• CLIN X005: Equipment/Laboratory Upgrades – Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

• CLIN X006: Equipment/Laboratory Upgrades – Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)

• CLIN X007: Travel – Cost No Fee

• CLIN X008: Support Service for Additional Lab Samples – Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

Form, Fit, and Function (Core Technical Requirements):

• Routine Sample Analysis: Perform initial elemental assay on up to 9,400 samples per year (typically 900cc steel containers filled with rectified whole air constituents) using gas chromatographs to determine constituent fractions with at most 10% measurement uncertainty.

• Chromatographic Separation: Separate specified fractions from 9,400 samples per year. A prioritized subset of up to 6,000 samples must be separated within

48 hours of receipt. Recovers noble-gas fractions with a yield of ≥ 80% and a purity of ≥ 99.9% with zero sample cross-contamination.

• Radiometry & Spectrometry Assays:

• Geiger-Mueller (G-M) Radiometry: Analyze a maximum of 9,400 separated analyte fractions per year via G-M radiometry with random uncertainty

< 0.5% (1𝜎) and absolute error < 1% relative to standard gas. Must process a minimum of 10 quality-assurance (QA) samples per week.

• Liquid-Scintillation (L-S) Beta Spectrometry: Analyze a maximum of 6,000 separated analyte fractions per year via L-S beta spectrometry within 24 hours of separation.

• Surge Capability: Process a sample surge of 10% of the yearly workload in a single month when required.

• Loss Control: Maintain an absolute sample loss rate of ≤ 0.5% in any contract year.

• R&D and Laboratory Upgrades: Perform engineering studies, technique improvements, and software/hardware development to support air sample collection and analysis. Maintain, repair, and upgrade all Government-Furnished

Equipment (GFE).

2. Rationale for Lack of Competition (Follow-On Action)

This proposed contract action is noncompetitive under the authority of RFO 6.103-

1 (as implemented by RFO 6.302-1). Linde Special Projects, LLC is the only responsible source capable of satisfying the GASTON IDIQ requirements due to the following critical constraints:

• Substantial Duplication of Costs: The Government would incur immense duplication of costs that cannot be recovered through competition. Establishing a replacement laboratory facility with the necessary chromatographic separation tables, G-M radiometry line-loads, and L-S spectrometers requires millions of dollars in capital deployment.

• Highly Restrictive Qualification Requirements: The specialized processing facility must hold an active US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Radioactive Materials License (or agreement state equivalent) to handle and analyze treaty-related samples.

• Unacceptable Security Delays: Under DOD publication 5220.22-M (NISPOM), the contractor must provide an active, secure, cleared SECRET-rated facility and maintain personnel with final US Government-issued SECRET clearances holding

DCID 6/4 eligibility and access to Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information

(CNWDI) and Restricted Data (RD). Re-verifying, clearing, and certifying a new contractor facility and its staff would result in an unacceptable delay of multiple years, causing an immediate, high-risk operational break in the United States' active Nuclear Treaty Monitoring mission.

PART III: RESPONSIBILITY AND SUBMISSION

INSTRUCTIONS

(Addresses RFO 5.101(c)(4)(vi) - "All Responsible Sources" Clause)

1. Capability Statement Evaluation Clause

In accordance with RFO 5.101(c)(4)(vi), all responsible sources may submit a quotation, bid, or proposal, which will be considered by the agency.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; no solicitation package is available. However, the Government will evaluate all written capability statements received by the closing date. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

2. Requirements for Submission

Firms believing they can fulfill these requirements without unrecoverable cost duplication or unacceptable national security mission delays must submit a comprehensive capability package containing:

1. Administrative Details: Legal Business Name, Address, CAGE Code, UEI, Point of Contact, and Business Size Status.

2. Facility & Licensing Proof: Direct evidence of an active US NRC Radioactive

Materials License (or agreement state equivalent) suitable for the specified sample processing.

3. Security Clearance Verification: Evidence of an active SECRET facility clearance, along with proof that key personnel possess current active SECRET clearances with CNWDI/RD access.

4. Technical Capabilities Narrative: Technical data demonstrating the ability to meet the rigorous throughput, uncertainty thresholds, and accuracy standards

(e.g., performing 9,400 G-M radioassays with < 0.5% random uncertainty).

3. Submission Details

Written capability statements must be submitted exclusively via email to the

Contract Specialist, James Fey at james.fey.1@us.af.mil, with a copy to the

Contracting Officer, Danny Austin at danny.austin.3@us.af.mil.

Submissions must be received no later than 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time (ET) on 11

September 2026. No telephone requests will be honored.

All submissions must use the email subject line: "Capability Statement Response -

Intent to Sole Source Linde Special Projects - GASTON".

mailto:james.fey.1@us.af.mil mailto:danny.austin.3@us.af.mil

10 %

≥ 80 %

≥ 99 . 9 %

< 0 . 5 %

1 𝜎

< 1 %

10 %

≤ 0 . 5 %

< 0 . 5 %