Sources Sought Synopsis | FA700026Q0055

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS

Solicitation Number FA700026Q0055

Title Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer System Components

Notice Type Sources Sought

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

Product Service Code (PSC) 6630 – Chemical Analysis Instruments

Date of Issuance 15 June 2026

Response Due Date 24 June 2026 at 10:00 AM MDT

1. Disclaimer This is a Sources Sought notice only. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an Invitation for Bid (IFB). This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes—it does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government.

2. Purpose The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado, is conducting market research to identify potential sources, specifically focusing on the capabilities of Small Businesses (including 8(a), HUBZone, Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned, etc.), that can provide an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer System upgrade.

The results of this market research will be used to determine the procurement strategy, including whether a small business set-aside is appropriate.

3. Requirement Description The USAFA Physics Department and Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) require high-performance, pulsed X-band EPR spectrometer components capable of generating complex microwave pulse sequences, digitizing transient EPR signals, and performing advanced measurements of spin relaxations in cryogenic materials.

The complete minimum requirements and technical specifications are defined in Attachment 1 – Salient Characteristics.

The anticipated “Brand Name or Equal” salient characteristics include:

• Pulsed Microwave Amplifier: X-band (9–10 GHz) with a minimum 600W output.

• Digital Pulsed X-Band Bridge & Circulator: Capable of detecting fast transient EPR signals (FIDs and spin echoes) with digital phase and amplitude control.

• High-Speed Digitizer: Dual-channel (quadrature) digitization of transient EPR signals.

• Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG): Minimum sampling rate of 3.2 GS/s.

• System Control Workstation: PC, monitor, and comprehensive GUI software for hardware control and data analysis.

Critical Integration Requirement: The USAFA currently utilizes a proprietary Bruker microwave resonator. Any proposed system components must natively interface with this existing government-owned resonator. The successful vendor must be able to perform required S-parameter characterization, impedance matching, and pulse calibration to ensure the new components drive the existing resonator efficiently upon installation.

4. Requested Information Interested parties that possess the capabilities to meet the above requirement are requested to submit a Capability Statement (no more than 5 pages). The statement must include the following information:

A. Corporate Information

1. Company Name, Address, and Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone Number, and Email Address).

2. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and CAGE Code.

3. Business Size Standard and Socioeconomic Status under NAICS 334516 (e.g., Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB).

B. Technical Capability

1. A brief description of your company's ability to provide equipment that meets or exceeds the listed salient characteristics in Attachment 1 – Salient Characteristics.

2. Crucially: Describe your technical approach and capability to successfully integrate your proposed system components with the Government's existing proprietary Bruker microwave resonator.

3. Examples of recent, relevant past performance providing similar high-performance EPR equipment to academic or research institutions.

C. Commercial Availability & Trade Agreements Act (TAA)

1. Identify the Country of Origin/Manufacturing location for the proposed end products (to help determine TAA compliance).

2. Indicate if these products are available on an existing Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), or other federal contract vehicle. If so, please provide the contract number.

5. Submission Instructions All capability statements and inquiries must be submitted electronically via email to t Ron Wilson at ronald.wilson.26@us.af.mil and Dawson Hopkinson at dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil.

Responses must be received no later than 10:00 AM MDT on 24 June 2026.

Please use the subject line: “Sources Sought Response – EPR Spectrometer – FA700026Q0055 – [Your Company Name]”

6. 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 mailto:ronald.wilson.26@us.af.mil mailto:dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil mailto:james.anderson.72@us.af.mil 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)