Formlabs Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printer

The United States Naval Supply Systems Command is seeking to procure a Formlabs Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printer for the Naval Academy's Makerspace Additive Manufacturing Lab. Specifically, the solicitation is for a Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W Printer system, including a build chamber, printer stand, and sift unit, with a total quantity of four items. The primary objective is to support advanced additive manufacturing research and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students across engineering, design, and materials science disciplines. The procurement is structured as a small business set-aside under solicitation N0018925Q0280, with offers due by 9:00 AM on June 9, 2025. Key requirements include a 30-watt laser for high-resolution fabrication, compatibility with existing infrastructure, closed-loop powder handling, and an integrated software ecosystem.

The contract is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS category 334118 (Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,000 employees. The place of performance is the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland 21402, with delivery scheduled for August 1, 2025, to the Mechanical Engineering Department's STEM Center. The solicitation is being managed by NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Contracting, with Gilbert Dobison serving as the contracting officer. Market research has determined that Formlabs is the only vendor meeting the precise specifications, justifying a sole-source acquisition approach. The procurement aims to acquire an industrial-grade additive manufacturing technology that will enable advanced research initiatives and provide students with experiential learning opportunities aligned with modern manufacturing and prototyping techniques.