Intent to Award Sole/Single Source - AFRL/RABE Micro Load Frame
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- IASS-AFRL-RMZB-2026-0043
- Agency
-
Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Place of performance
- Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Enterprise Strategies and Initiatives Contracting Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, issued a notice of intent to award a sole source purchase order for a micro load frame at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, with a capability statement and exception submission deadline of August 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. AFRL intends to award the order to Oxford Instruments Asylum Research under FAR 12.102(a), citing that Oxford is the only vendor capable of providing a micro load frame meeting both the physical requirements and full software integration with the existing Jupiter XR Atomic Force Microscope system.
The requirement calls for a micro load frame (NAICS 334576) capable of applying tension and compression forces up to at least 65 newtons to energetic material samples, with maximum sample dimensions of 12 mm width, 41 mm length, and 6 mm thickness. The equipment must deliver strain application ranging from 100 percent to 400 percent, achieve range adjustment resolution of at least 0.5 mm, physically fit under the AFM scanner head, and integrate seamlessly with the AFM control software. Market research identified four companies capable of supplying a compatible micro load frame, but Oxford's NanoRack-JUP model is the sole product offering full software integration with the Jupiter XR AFM control systems.
Responsible sources and authorized distributors may submit capability statements, quotations, or exceptions to the sole source determination via email to Christopher Olp-Weakland at christopher.olp-weakland@us.af.mil, with subject line "Notice of Intent to Award SS - Micro Load Frame." Training at the AFRL/RABE facility is a firm requirement. The Government reserves discretion to conduct competitive procurement based on responses received.
Notice text
This requirement is for a Micro Load Frame at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SINGLE SOURCE: The NAICS Code is 334576 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Enterprise Strategies and Initiatives Contracting Division (RMZ), located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, intends to award a sole source purchase order as authorized by RFO 12.102(a) to Oxford Instruments Asylum Research.
In order to comply with RFO 5.101(c)(4)(vii), the reason for lack of competition is as follows: Oxford Instruments Asylum Research is the only vendor capable of providing a micro load frame that meets the physical requirements and also fully integrates with the software of the Jupiter XR Atomic Force Microscope. Please see attachment to this notice for additional details.
This Notice of Intent is NOT a request for competitive quotes or proposals. A determination by the Government for the competition of this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources or authorized distributors may submit a capability statement that meets all the requirements in the attached Minimum Requirements Document (MRD) dated 05 August 2026, quotation, or exception to the intent to purchase on a sole source basis, which shall be considered by the Government via e-mail to Mr. Christof Olp-Weakland at christopher.olp-weakland@us.af.mil no later than Monday 17 August 2026 at 5:00pm Eastern Time. Only responses received by this date will be considered. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
Be advised that all correspondence sent via e-mail shall contain a subject line that reads “Notice of Intent to Award SS – Micro Load Frame”. Note that e-mail filters at Wright-Patterson AFB are designed to filter e-mails without subject lines or with suspicious subject lines or contents (i.e., .exe, or .zip files). Therefore, if this subject line is not included, the e-mail may not get through the e-mail filters. Also be advised that .zip or .exe files are not allowable attachments and may be deleted by the e-mail filters at Wright-Patterson AFB. If sending attachments with e-mail, ensure only .PDF, .doc, docx, xls, or .xsls documents are sent. The e-mail filter may delete any other form of attachments.
Attachment(s):
Minimum Requirements Document (MRD)
Single Source Justification (SSJ) Redacted
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Requirements Document (MRD).docx | DOCX document | |
| SSJ - Redacted.pdf |
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