Automated Smoke Point Instrument

Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted

Solicitation number
A061567
Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

Place of performance
Lompoc, California 93437, United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of supplying one Automated Smoke Point Instrument for the Aerospace Fuels Laboratory at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The instrument must perform smoke point testing on Aviation Turbine Fuels and Kerosene-based Propellants in compliance with ASTM D1322-24 standards and operate as a benchtop unit weighing no more than 50 pounds with dimensions not exceeding 24"x24"x24". Key technical requirements include a digital camera system capable of analyzing flame heights from 0.0 to 50.0 mm with 0.05 mm minimum resolution, integrated sensors for pressure, humidity, and temperature with automatic atmospheric compensation, data storage exceeding 2GB with multiple connectivity options, and compatibility with standard electrical outlets (100-240V single phase, 50/60Hz). While this is a sources sought notice for market research purposes only and not a formal request for proposals, interested firms must demonstrate clear technical compliance and submit capability packages to Ms. Jennifer Blackford (jennifer.blackford@us.af.mil) and Ms. Eve Aden (eve.aden@us.af.mil) by April 27, 2026. The government is actively seeking responses from all potential sources, including Small Businesses, 8(a) participants, HUBZone Small Businesses, EDWOSBs, WOSBs, SDBs, and SDVOSBs.

This procurement carries no specific set-aside designation at the present time, though the Air Force is considering a potential small business set-aside if sufficient demonstrated interest and capability exist among eligible contractors. The contract does not specify an award value or budget range in the pre-solicitation materials, and no incumbent contractor or prior award information has been identified. The delivery timeline is critical, with the contractor required to complete delivery and installation of the instrument at Vandenberg Space Force Base within 12 weeks from contract award. The contractor's proposal must include all shipping costs and insurance, and the seller shall provide four hours of on-site training, comprehensive electronic manuals, technical support with a maximum three-business-day response time during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm), and a minimum two-year extended warranty. Additional deliverables include one wick trimmer set, one wick tube, and 50 compatible woven circular cotton extracted wicks meeting specified dimensions, with payment contingent upon proper invoice submission and final inspection and acceptance at the installation site.

Notice text

Notice from the United States Air Force, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Installation Contracting Division, Base Support Contracting Branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio:

The AFLCMC Operational Contracting Branch, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is seeking capabilities packages of potential sources including Small Businesses (SB). This sources sought synopsis is published for market research purposes only, to identify potential sources capable of delivering one (1) Automated Smoke Point Instrument with the capabilities described herein for the Aerospace Fuels Laboratory located at Vandenberg Space Force Base (Vandenberg SFB) in Lompoc, California.

The Government is seeking capabilities packages from all potential sources, including but not limited to: small business (SB), 8(a) participants, HUBZone Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Firms that respond shall review the attached instructions and technical requirements and submit responses that:

  1. Specify that offered products meet the specifications provided below; and
  2. Provide detailed information to show clear technical compliance.

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/QUOTES.

All interested firms shall submit a response to the Primary Points of Contact, Ms. Jennifer Blackford at jennifer.blackford@us.af.mil and Ms. Eve Aden at eve.aden@us.af.mil, demonstrating their capability to provide one (1) Automated Smoke Point Instrument. As stipulated in Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) 15.101, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. A solicitation for this requirement does not exist, therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract will be solely within the Government's discretion.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this acquisition is 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. Firms responding should indicate socio-economic status [8(a) with Graduation Date, SDVOSB, EDWOSB, WOSB, small business, and/or HUBZone]. Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a foreign-owned/foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto for any subsequent action. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a Department of Defense (DoD) contract. A small business set-aside decision has not yet been made.

Respondents should note the potential application of Limitations on Subcontracting (RFO 52.219-14) and the Non-Manufacturer Rule (RFO 52.219-33) to a future acquisition that may result from this Sources Sought. Respondents should consider how the primary tasks identified in this notice will be broken out between prime contractor and subcontractors and address subcontracting in their response, if applicable/necessary.

Any information submitted by respondents to this Sources Sought is voluntary. This Sources Sought notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government reimburse any costs associated with the submission of information in response to this notice. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any Government assessments. The Government's assessment of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small business or any particular small business program.

CAPABILITIES PACKAGE:

All interested firms shall submit a capabilities package to provide one (1) Automated Smoke Point Instrument that explicitly demonstrates their capability to provide the required specifications. The capabilities package should be brief and concise yet clearly demonstrate an ability to meet the stated requirements. However, the response must not exceed five (5) pages. Capabilities Packages submitted in response to this sources sought synopsis must be received at the following e-mail addresses NO LATER THAN 27 April 2026 AT 2:00 PM EASTERN TIME.

All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads: Automated Smoke Point Instrument.If this subject line is not included, the email may not get through email filters at WPAFB. Filters are designed to delete emails without a subject or with a suspicious subject or attachments. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xlsx or .xls documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.

Responses shall be submitted via email to the following addresses: eve.aden@us.af.mil and jennifer.blackford@us.af.mil

Please direct all questions concerning this acquisition to Ms. Eve Aden at eve.aden@us.af.mil and include the necessary subject line indicated above.

Attachments:

  1. Sources Sought Instructions
  2. Statement of Work

Files

File Type Posted
Sources Sought Instructions.docx DOCX document
Statement of Work.docx DOCX document

Similar open opportunities

Opportunity Agency Set-aside Responses due
GA-vgms-33528 NAICS 334515 AFLCMC Wright Patterson AFB No set-aside
KC-135 APU NAICS 336413 Air Force Sustainment Center No set-aside
Solicitation: SPE4A5-27-r-0024; open / close date: 5 november 2026 – 5 december 2026; PR: 7017010408; NSN: 6680-00-566-6657; PN: 300047-13001; quantity: 106 ; noun: monitor, fuel gage, c; delivery: 679 days; AMC/amsc: 3/c. United States · NAICS 334519 Aviation No set-aside
Aircraft Maintenance Fixture for KC-135 Spoiler Actuator Warner Robins, Georgia 31098, United States · NAICS 488190 Air Force Sustainment Center No set-aside
Fire Alarm/Suppression Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Rome, New York 13441, United States · NAICS 561621 Air Force Research Laboratory No set-aside

On GovTribe

Work this opportunity

  • Track it in your pipeline
  • Find teaming partners
  • Similar opportunities
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity