USAFA Low Load and 500lb Force Balances
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- F4BWY05079A002
- Agency
-
Air Force Academy
Headquarters Air Force, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- PSC
- 6670 Scales And Balances
- Place of performance
- Usaf Academy, Colorado 80840, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) 10th Contracting Squadron has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole-source Purchase Order to Aero Research Instruments, Inc. for two specialized force balances used in wind tunnel testing. The procurement is being conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.5 for simplified commercial item procedures, with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The balances are specifically required for the Trisonic Wind Tunnel (TWT), which operates from Mach 0.3 to 4.5 with dynamic pressures up to 35 psi. The notice identifies a need for two distinct balance systems: a 500lb force balance and a Low Load balance, both with precise measurement capabilities for various aerodynamic forces and moments. The agency has determined that Aero Research Instruments is the only vendor capable of manufacturing these highly specialized instruments to meet the USAFA's unique specifications.
Contractors interested in potentially challenging the sole-source determination must submit detailed information by May 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM Mountain Standard Time to the designated contract contacts, Fenton Fitzgerald and Kristin Heikkila. The required submission includes company information such as name, address, contact details, CAGE/DUNS number, and small business status certification. Interested vendors should also provide examples of similar prior services, estimated pricing (for market research purposes only), detailed product specifications aligned with the technical requirements, and anticipated lead times for delivery. The government retains full discretion to determine whether to compete the action after reviewing submitted information. While the notice emphasizes that this is not a request for competitive quotations and a solicitation will not be available, it provides an opportunity for potential vendors to demonstrate their capability to meet the highly specific technical requirements for the force balances used in wind tunnel testing.
Notice text
Notice of Intent to Single Source
The USAF Academy 10th Contracting Squadron intends to solicit and award a Purchase Order, in accordance with FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, to AERO RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS, INC, Corona, California, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, One responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the small business size standard is 1,000 people.
The USAFA anticipates award of a Purchase Order on a sole source basis to AERO RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS, INC for load and force balances that will be used in wind tunnel testing. Aero Research Instruments offers commercial balances that have been customized to meet unique specifications of our wind tunnel testing parameters.
The US Air Force Academy, Dean of Faculty Department of Aeronautics (DFAN) has a new requirement to obtain aerodynamic force and moment data in the Trisonic Wind Tunnel (TWT). The TWT is a blown-down tunnel capable of operating from Mach 0.3 to 4.5 with dynamic pressures as high as 35 psi in the test section which contains the force balance as an integral piece of measurement equipment. The DFAN Aeronautics Laboratory requests the purchase of two force balances whose requirements are listed below. There is only one know vendor that is able to manufacture this piece of equipment.
At a minimum, the 500lb force balance system must:
• Serve as a form, fit, and function replacement for the existing balance
• Have a cylindrical diameter of 0.75”
• Distance between normal force elements of 3.000”
• Distance between side force elements of 2.500”
• Be able to measure total normal force of 500 lbs
• Be able to measure total side force of 500 lbs
• Be able to measure total axial force of 50 lbs
• Be able to measure rolling moment of 100 in/lb
• Be able to measure pitching moment of 750 in/lb
• Be able to measure yawing moment of 625 in/lb
At a minimum, the Low Load balance system must:
• Serve as a form, fit, and function replacement for the existing balance
• Have a cylindrical diameter of 0.75”
• Distance between normal force elements of 3.000”
• Distance between side force elements of 2.500”
• Be able to measure total normal force of 40 lbs
• Be able to measure total side force of 30 lbs
• Be able to measure total axial force of 8 lbs
• Be able to measure rolling moment of 25 in/lb
• Be able to measure pitching moment of 45 in/lb
• Be able to measure yawing moment of 25 in/lb
Although great care is taken, there is always a non-trivial risk of mechanical damage to any balance during wind tunnel testing. In order to prevent an extensive work stoppage, we need two spare balances.
This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. A solicitation will not be available for this requirement. The intent of this notice is for informational purposes only. However, any information received from any organization, before 2:00 PM MST., Friday, May 2, 2025, that believes it can meet this requirement will be considered by the Government for a competitive procurement action.
Information in response to this notice can be directed in writing via email to the following points of contact: Fenton Fitzgerald, Contract Specialist, at fenton.fitzgerald.2@us.af.mil AND, Kristin Heikkila, Contracting Officer, at kristin.heikkila@us.af.mil. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephonic questions or requests are strongly discouraged.
Inquiring vendors are requested to submit the following information to this office by electronic mail by: 2 May 2025 at 02:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.
- Company name, address, point of contact telephone number, e-mail address, CAGE/DUNS.
- Representation/Certification of small business socio economic status (if applicable).
- Examples of prior services provided of a similar nature.
- What is your estimated pricing? You will not be held to the price as it’s for the Government market research purposes only.
- What are your product specs, in accordance with the load and force balance requirements aforementioned.
- What is your lead time and expected delivery time for completed rotation stages to Government desired specifications?
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