FY25_Multiwell Plate Reader

Closed Special Notice Posted

Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
Total Small Business

Opportunity facts

Place of performance
Fulton, Maryland 20759, United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

The Department of the Air Force Academy has issued a Special Notice for a sole source commercial contract to acquire a multi-well plate reader module for the Edinburgh Instruments FLS1000 photoluminescence spectrometer. The notice, posted on April 3, 2025, with a response deadline of April 11, 2025, is being managed by the 10th Contracting Squadron at the USAF Academy in Colorado. The government intends to award the contract to Techcomp USA Inc., a small business, under the authority of 10 USC 2304(c)(1) based on market research indicating they are the only responsible source capable of fulfilling the requirement. The specific equipment sought is an external module that can attach to the existing spectrometer, enabling spectral and time-resolved measurements of up to 96 small samples across a 250-900 nm spectral range.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to provide transparency about the intended sole source acquisition and allow potential offerors an opportunity to submit information challenging the sole source determination. The notice is specifically targeted at small businesses, with a set-aside designation for this category of contractors. Key instructions include submitting any responses in writing by the April 11, 2025 deadline, with all information to be provided at no cost or obligation to the government. While this is not a competitive solicitation, the government will consider any responses received before the closing date that support an alternative source's capability to fulfill the requirement. Contractors interested in providing input or challenging the sole source determination should directly contact the Contracting Officer, Ms. Susan D. Ulma, or utilize the designated ombudsman, James Anderson, for potential resolution of concerns. If no responses are received, the government will proceed with the sole source acquisition to Techcomp USA Inc.

Notice text

This is a special notice prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions. The contracting office for this notice is the 10th Contracting Squadron, USAF Academy, CO 80840. 
The US Air Force Academy (USAFA) intends to award a sole source commercial contract to Techcomp USA Inc., a small business, for a multi-well plate reader. 


Description of Services:

The multi-well plate reader module is an external module that attached to an Edinburgh Instruments FLS1000, enabling spectral and time-resolved measurements of up to 96 small samples at a time.  It should allow for measurements over a spectral range of 250 - 900 nm. It should include all required bifurcated fiber connectors, installation, and training.

The multi-well plate reader module must be compatible with the existing Edinburgh Instruments FLS1000 photoluminescence spectrometer. The only source that meets this requirement is Edinburgh Instruments.

The market research results clearly indicate that Techcomp USA Inc (authorized US partner) is the only known responsible source capable of fulfilling all aspects of this requirement.

The identified sole source is:

Techcomp USA Inc
11840 W Market STE K
 Fulton, MD 20759-2619
CAGE Code: 7Z3C2
UEI: L98CCGXGEGW7

THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES. This acquisition is being pursued on a sole source basis under the authority of 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes; however, the Government will consider all responses received to this notice by the closing date and time of this notice. Any responses to this notice received after the closing date and time will be late and may not be taken into consideration.  All information submitted should support the offeror's capability to fulfill this requirement and shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government.  Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government.  If no responses are received, the government will proceed with the sole source acquisition.

Points of Contact: 

Ms. Susan D. Ulma, Contracting Officer, susan.ulma@us.af.mil.

5352.201-9101 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 ombudsmen,

James Anderson
8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 103
USAFA, CO 80840
Telephone number 719-333-3829
FAX 719-333-9018
Email: james.anderson.72@us.af.mil

Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the Center/MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU ombudsman level, may be brought by the interested party for further consideration to the Department of the Air Force 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.The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.


(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)
 

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