Anticipated Sole Source Award to Santa Barabara Infrared INC.

The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) at Edwards Air Force Base intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract for a fully integrated, turnkey radiometric test station to support the 775th Test Squadron's OPTICAMS Improvement & Modernization Project. This procurement falls under NAICS code 334516 (optical instruments and test equipment manufacturing) and PSC code 6650. The government's primary requirement is a 100% interoperable, follow-on solution that includes high-emissivity blackbody sources, an integrating sphere uniform source, a custom COLOSUS target projector system, differential and extended area low-temperature blackbody systems, a high-temperature blackbody system, optical table, IRWindows 5 software, annual support subscription with 24-hour response time, on-site installation and alignment, operator training for up to eight personnel, and standard commercial warranty. Responsible sources that believe they can meet these requirements may submit a complete technical package providing clear and convincing evidence of their capabilities by the April 21, 2026 deadline. The government will evaluate offerors' ability to meet the requirement without causing unacceptable schedule delays or substantial duplication of cost, and all submissions must contain sufficient detail to allow such determination.

No set-aside designation has been applied to this procurement. Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. (SBIR), located in Santa Barbara, California (CAGE: 0B0B2), is the anticipated sole-source awardee, justified based on its exclusive commercial license to apply the Vantablack S-IR coating to large-area blackbody sources with spectral flatness greater than 0.995 emissivity, a capability confirmed to be unique through a comprehensive market survey that included responses from Federon/HGH and AFRL. The contract cost and funding levels are redacted in the available documentation. The sole-source justification was coordinated by Program Manager Justin Duhart on March 12, 2026, and approved by Contracting Officer Susana Dryer on March 26, 2026, under the authority of AFFARS 5313.501 and 10 U.S.C. 2302b for Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The government has designated an Ombudsman to facilitate resolution of concerns from offerors prior to final contract award.