SSJ Scanning Electron (Redacted) 21-Aug-2025.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

CUI

20 Apr 2017 CUI Page 1 of 2

Section A: General Contract Information

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/PZIB

Project/Program Name: Scanning Electron Microscope

Purchase Request/Identification Number: F3ST705106A002

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options): $222,949.00

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

The Aerospace Fuels Laboratory (AFPET/PTPLH) has a requirement for one (1) desktop scanning electron microscope, with energy dispersive spectrometer, and secondary electron detector configured for automated analysis in order to support the launch mission at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name

A thorough review of the market was completed via vendor outreach, system searching, and consultation by the end-user with subject matter experts (SMEs). No fully acceptable alternate was found for this requirement. The following requirements are provided by ThermoFisher's (sold exclusively by NanoScience) Scanning Electron Microscope that are not provided by any other company.

1. The inclusion of a holder that accommodates up to four (4) of the standard 47 mm filter membranes. The holder accommodates four samples, representing the analysis of failed filters from the prime and backup samples. Each failure is confirmed with a retest, resulting in four filters per sample. Standard 47 mm membranes are used because they are specified for filtrations per MIL-PRF.

2. A strong automation capability able to analyze these filters unattended overnight. With recent downsizing impacting our team's resources, efficiency is paramount. Currently, analyzing a single filter is a full-day task for an analyst. In 2024, AFPET received 141 samples requiring this support. Implementing automated processing, allowing us to analyze four samples overnight, could save approximately 106 FTE days (848 hours) annually. This represents a significant cost savings of $43,283 per year, based on the salary of a GS-13 employee. This automation exemplifies a key strategy for achieving more with less.

3. A desktop model that includes a cerium source. To minimize costs and maximize mission reliability, a cerium or lanthanum source is required. Replacing tungsten filaments, the alternative, carries a significant burden. Tungsten filaments typically last only 100 hours, often reduced to approximately 80 hours under our higher operating voltages. Their abrupt failure results in a complete signal loss, demanding immediate and disruptive action. This translates to 10 or more filament replacements per year, frequently impacting priority mission samples and causing delays that can compromise launch schedules and increase government operational costs. Replacing these filaments is a complex procedure, requiring system cooling, vacuum release, filament installation, vacuum re-establishment, heating, and alignment verification – often involving multiple iterations. Cerium/ lanthanum sources, however, offer a significantly extended lifespan of over 1500 hours, requiring replacement only every two years or longer. Critically, their gradual degradation allows continued instrument operation even with diminished signal strength. Integrating source inspection into annual preventive maintenance allows for scheduled replacements that avoid disrupting mission-critical activities.

Each of these requirements allows for efficient use of government resources. The automation capability allows filters to be unattended overnight - a previously highly time consuming process that takes multiple days of analyst attention. The cerium source provides a usable life approximately 15x longer than the tungsten filament commonly used in competitor systems. The desktop model allows for ease of access and usage.

ThermoFisher is the only manufacturer capable of producing a system that meets the Government need and because NanoScience is the exclusive distributor of the ThermoFisher system, it is in the best interest of the Government to pursue a sole-source award with NanoSceince for the Scanning Electron Microscope as described in the Statement of Work (SOW).

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Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

CUI

20 Apr 2017 CUI Page 2 of 2

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

Market research was conducted using the methods outlined below in an effort to obtain competition. The end-user for this requirement reviewed systems from Hitachi and Coxem, but found that neither can accommodate the larger samples frequently handled by the Fuels Laboratory at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Furthermore, neither company can supply systems that automatically process the 47 mm filters which are standardly used at Cape Canaveral. Additionally, Zeiss was reviewed, but it was found that they could not provide a desktop solution.

Additionally, standard government procurements systems were searched under the following queries: Scanning Electron Microscope, Electron Microscope, Scanning Microscope, Scanning Electron, Scanning Electron System, and Scanning Electron Microscope System.

The Contracting Specialist searched GSA Advantage for the above queries. No results were found for AbilityOne or UNICOR. The only results found for the Federal Supply Schedule were textbooks on electron microscopy and smaller systems unable to meet the Statement of Work (SOW) expressed requirements.

Next, the Contracting Specialist searched the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) under all of the same queries as well as under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the Product Service Code (PSC) codes assigned to this requirement. The NAICS code assigned to this requirement is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (Size Standard: 1000 employees). The PSC assigned to this requirement is 6640 - Laboratory Equipment and Supplies. The result of these searches yielded several contracts from the aforementioned reviewed companies. Because these companies have already been determined to be unable to meet the requirement, they were ignored. However, several other Government contracts were reviewed.

On 15 July 2025, a Sources Sought Listing was posted on SAM.gov. Only one (1) response to this listing was received. On 22 July 2025, the apparent Sole-Source Awardee, NanoScience, responded with the requested capabilities package. Because no other company responded, it is the Contracting Officer's determination that no other company registered in SAM.gov under the assigned NAICS code is capable of meeting the SOW expressed requirement.

On 5 June 2025, an RFI was sent to the apparent Sole Source awardee, NanoScience. On 18 June 2025, NanoScience confirmed that they are the exclusive authorized reseller of the required equipment and do not have any sub-resellers or sub-distributors.

On 31 July 2025, an RFI was sent to the manufacturer, ThermoFisher. On 6 August 2025, they confirmed that NanoScience is the exclusive authorized reseller of the required equipment.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

The market will be monitored by Governmental Subject Matter Experts and competitive procedures will be defaulted to in the future. It is expected with the rapid rise of AI capabilities that there will be more competition in the future.

Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

20-Aug-2025

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

Amanda J Hoyng, NH-03

Signature of Contracting Officer

HOYNG.AMANDA.J.1454180

Digitally signed by

HOYNG.AMANDA.J.1454180034

Date: 2025.08.20 09:14:04 -04'00'

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