Notice of Intent to Sole Source for service contract agreement for the NETL-own

The Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for a service contract agreement covering maintenance and support for a PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS VersaProbe III X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer. The contract period of performance runs from March 24, 2026, through March 25, 2027. NETL intends to award this purchase order on a sole source basis to PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Part 12 regulations governing the acquisition of commercial products and services. The justification for sole sourcing centers on the proprietary nature of the instrument and the requirement that factory-trained technicians perform all major component servicing and replacement to prevent equipment damage and user safety risks. This notice invites interested parties to demonstrate their capability to meet the stated requirements.

The objective of this Special Notice is to identify any capable alternative contractors before NETL finalizes its sole source award to PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS. Interested parties must submit written evidence of their capability to fulfill the requirement to Contract Specialist Shannon Lynch at shannon.lynch@netl.doe.gov by 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on March 17, 2026. The proprietary maintenance renewal package includes full functionality support, technical assistance, upgrades, no-cost equipment exchange or loaner equipment, access to a remote diagnostics program (ReACH), and scheduled preventive maintenance services. There are no specific eligibility restrictions stated; however, contractors must demonstrate concrete evidence of capability to service and maintain PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS' VersaProbe III spectrometer systems. The government retains sole discretion to determine whether to conduct a competitive procurement based on the responses received, and this notice is not a request for quotes or formal proposals.