Solicitation_Powder XRD System_FA700026Q0068.pdf

Solicitation: FA700026Q0068 | Powder XRD System

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

Powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) System

Solicitation Number FA700026Q0068

Post Date 17 August 2026

Response Date 24 August 2026 at 10:00 AM MDT

Set-Aside Status Unrestricted (Full and Open Competition)

NOTICE OF FUNDS AVAILABILITY DISCLAIMER

Funds are not presently available for this effort. No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a response to this solicitation.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

2.0 REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION

2.1 SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS (Performance Requirements)

General System & Infrastructure

X-Ray Source & Generator

Goniometer & Alignment

Optics

Detector

Sample Stages

Non-Ambient & Specialized Capabilities

Software & Data Processing

3.0 QUOTE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Submission Requirements:

4.0 EVALUATION FACTORS

5.0 APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES

6.0 OMBUDSMAN

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the current Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) and DFARS Publication Notice (DPN).

• Set-Aside Status: Unrestricted (Full and Open Competition)

• NAICS Code: 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing)

• Small Business Size Standard: 1,000 Employees

• Product Service Code (PSC): 6630 (Chemical Analysis Instruments)

2.0 REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION

The Government has a requirement for the procurement, delivery, and installation of one (1) highly modular, advanced automated multipurpose Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD) system.

CLIN Description Quantity Unit of Issue

0001 Powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) System 1 Each (EA)

2.1 SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS (Performance Requirements)

The supplied Powder XRD system must meet or exceed the following brand-agnostic characteristics:

General System & Infrastructure

• The diffractometer shall be offered as a fully functional, automated multipurpose X-ray diffraction system, complete and installed, with optional on-site training for users.

• Must include a radiation safety enclosure with steel construction, safety-interlocked electromagnetic shutter mechanism, sliding front access doors with leaded-acrylic windows, and a lighted interior.

X-Ray Source & Generator

• Copper (Cu) anode X-ray tube (long-fine focus, approximately 2.2 kW).

• High-voltage generator system with at least 3.0 kW continuously rated output power.

• Voltage range of 20–60 kV (1 kV steps) and current range of 2–60 mA (1 mA steps).

• Must include a dedicated heat exchanger (chiller) for sufficient cooling of the X-ray source.

Goniometer & Alignment

• High-precision vertical Theta/Theta (θ/θ) geometry goniometer (maintaining the sample in a horizontal position at all times).

• Optical encoder controlled with fully automated alignment.

• Independently controlled source and detector axes with a minimum step resolution of 0.0001 degrees.

• Slewing speed of at least 250 degrees/minute.

Optics

• Automated incident beam optics that allow user-selectable switching between Parallel Beam (using a parabolic multilayer X-ray mirror) and Bragg-Brentano optical configurations without requiring the user to manually mount/dismount optics or perform realignment.

• Computer-controlled variable divergence and incident slits (e.g., 0.05 – 7.0 mm).

• Diffracted beam optics featuring computer-controlled receiving slits and appropriate filters (e.g., Nickel filter for Cu radiation).

Detector

• Hybrid pixel array multi-dimensional detector capable of 0D (point), 1D (line), and 2D operations.

• Pixel size must be approximately 100 µm x 100 µm or smaller to ensure high resolution.

• Must feature direct photon counting sensitivity with dual energy discriminators to allow the user to adjust energy thresholds (to suppress fluorescence and eliminate cosmic rays).

• Must support rapid readout speeds (e.g., 3.2 msec or faster) and high global count rates.

• Includes mounting hardware to allow the detector to be mounted vertically to extend angular coverage.

Sample Stages

• High-precision motorized Z-stage for horizontal sample measurement, controlled by automatic sample alignment programs.

• Must include standard sample holders for powders, bulk materials, and thin films.

• System must support advanced modular stages, including options for a fully motorized Eulerian cradle (Alpha-Beta or χ-φ-Z) and in-plane sample rotation/tilt stages.

Non-Ambient & Specialized Capabilities

• Configurable for non-ambient experiments, including a motorized low-temperature chamber with liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling capabilities.

• Configurable for Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Ultra-Small Angle X-ray Scattering (USAXS), inclusive of necessary receiving slits, transmission holders, and specialized analysis software.

• Capable of micro-area measurements utilizing polycapillary optics, an XY mapping stage, and a sample observation camera.

Software & Data Processing

• Single, comprehensive software platform that integrates instrument control, user guidance, data collection, and data analysis.

• Must feature optical recognition of the instrument's hardware configuration in real-time to prevent collisions and ensure optimal setup.

• Advanced powder data analysis capabilities including automatic data reduction, qualitative search/match phase identification (interfacing with standard crystallographic databases), and quantitative analysis.

• Must include Total X-Ray Scattering analysis software for Pair Distribution Function (PDF) calculations (via direct Fourier transform or Maximum Entropy Method) for amorphous or liquid samples.

3.0 QUOTE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Quotes are due no later than 24 August 2026 at 10:00 AM MDT.

Submit quotes via email to the Contracting Officer Ronald Wilson at ronald.wilson.26@us.af.mil and the Contract Specialist Mikayla Brandt at mikayla.brandt@us.af.mil.

Questions: All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted via email no later than 20 August 2026 at 10:00 AM MDT.

Quote Validity: Quotes must remain valid until 30 September 2026.

Submission Requirements:

1. Price Quote: Provide a firm-fixed-price quote for CLIN 0001, inclusive of delivery, installation, and on-site training.

2. Technical Capability: Submit a technical description or product literature demonstrating that the offered equipment meets or exceeds all salient characteristics outlined in Section 2.1.

3. Past Performance Information: Provide a brief summary of past performance for similar equipment deliveries within the last three (3) years, including contract numbers, customer points of contact, and a brief description of the work performed.

4. Company Information: Include CAGE Code, SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), Payment Terms, and Delivery timeframe (Days After Receipt of Order - ARO).

5. Trade Agreements Act (TAA) Certification: Because the estimated value of this acquisition exceeds the TAA threshold, offerors must certify the country of origin for the end product in accordance with FAR 52.225-6 and DFARS 252.225-7020 by completing Attachment 02 - Trade Agreement Certificate.

4.0 EVALUATION FACTORS

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. This will be a Best Value / Trade-off evaluation.

The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

6. Technical Acceptability: The item offered must meet or exceed all salient characteristics detailed in Section 2.1. The Government will evaluate the technical literature provided to determine the extent to which the proposed equipment meets the required performance specifications.

7. Past Performance: The Government will evaluate the offeror’s past performance record to assess the confidence in the offeror's ability to successfully perform the required effort. This evaluation will include a review of the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) and the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) scores, in addition to any past performance information provided by the offeror.

8. Price: The Government will evaluate the total evaluated price for reasonableness.

Technical tradeoffs and past performance confidence assessments may be made to determine the best value to the Government. A quote that is not the lowest priced may be selected if the higher price is justified by superior technical capabilities or a significantly higher level of confidence in past performance.

5.0 APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES

See Attachment 01 - Provisions and Clauses for the full list of applicable provisions and clauses.

6.0 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)

Attachments:

• Attachment 01 - Provisions and Clauses

• Attachment 02 - Trade Agreement Certificate