Notice_of_Intent_Sole_Source_FA700026Q0055.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source | USAFA

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer System Components

Notice Type Special Notice / Notice of Intent to Sole Source

NAICS Code 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (Size Standard: 1,000 employees)

Product Service Code (PSC) 6630 – Chemical Analysis Instruments

Anticipated Award Date 15 July 2026

Response Due Date 18 June 2026 at 10:00 AM MDT

1. Introduction and Intent The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado, intends to award a firm-fixed-price sole-source contract to Bruker BioSpin Corporation for a commercial product using the procedures outlined in FAR Part 12.

Bruker BioSpin Corporation is a large Business located at 15 Fortune Drive Billerica, MA 01821. The authority for this non-competitive award is 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source.

The USAFA Physics Department currently owns and operates a proprietary Bruker microwave resonator used for academic science and materials research. The required new system components must integrate natively and seamlessly with this existing proprietary hardware. Market research indicates that Bruker BioSpin Corporation is the sole Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of components technically compatible with the existing Bruker resonator.

2. Requirement Description The USAFA Physics Department and Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) require the following highly specialized scientific equipment:

• X-band pulsed microwave amplifier (9–10 GHz frequency, 600W)

• Digital pulsed X-band EPR bridge

• EPR Digitizer

• EPR X-Band Circulator Extension

• EPR Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) (3.2 GS/s)

• Supporting frame, PC with specialized EPR software, and monitor

• On-site installation and configuration

Critical Performance Requirement: All proposed equipment must be fully compatible and verifiable to integrate with the existing USAFA proprietary Bruker microwave resonator without degradation of system performance or the need for extensive reverse-engineering/modification.

3. Notice of Intent This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or a solicitation. A solicitation will not be issued. However, any responsible source that believes it is capable of meeting this requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

The capability statement must clearly demonstrate the vendor’s ability to provide equipment that natively integrates with the existing proprietary Bruker microwave resonator, along with proof of authorization if offering third-party OEM hardware.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

4. Submission Instructions All responses must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer, Ron Wilson at ronald.wilson.26@us.af.mil and Dawson Hopkinson at dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil no later than 18 June 2026 at 10:00 AM MDT. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

5. 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.

(End of clause) mailto:james.anderson.72@us.af.mil