Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs)
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA875125Q0060
- Agency
- Air Force Research Laboratory Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 327215 Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass
- PSC
- 9340 Glass Fabricated Materials
- Points of contact
-
- Cody Owens cody.owens.4@us.af.mil (315) 330-2921
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Research Laboratory is seeking to procure four specialized types of Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs) through a sole-source procurement with Light Machinery, Inc. The contract involves acquiring two units each of four different VIPA configurations, spanning wavelength ranges from 350-1700 nm, with each array being 3.371 mm thick and mounted. Market research conducted by the government identified Light Machinery, Inc. as the sole vendor capable of providing these highly specialized optical devices, with no other commercially available alternatives discovered. The pre-solicitation notice allows potential vendors to submit capability statements or proposals, with all inquiries to be sent to cody.owens.4@us.af.mil by April 10, 2025. Interested parties must provide clear evidence that competition would be advantageous to the government if they wish to challenge the sole-source determination. The government anticipates making an award on or before May 15, 2025.
The procurement does not have a specific small business set-aside, though the associated NAICS code (327215 - Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass) has a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. Light Machinery, Inc., located in Nepean, Ontario, Canada, is the intended sole-source contractor, with specific item numbers identified for each VIPA type. The contract will be executed under FAR Part 12 for commercial products and Part 13 for simplified acquisition procedures. The quantities are relatively small, with two units requested for each of the four VIPA configurations. A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award, providing additional context for the procurement decision. While no specific contract value is mentioned, the specialized nature of the VIPAs suggests a potentially high-value, technical procurement focused on precise optical research and development requirements.
Notice text
This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 327215 (Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.
The Government requires the procurement of four different types of Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs), and intends to negotiate a sole-source award for this requirement with Light Machinery, Inc., 80 Colonnade Road, Nepean, ON, Canada. Relevant Light Machinery, Inc. item numbers and product descriptions for the required VIPAs are as follows:
Item 1, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-1-M
- VIPA
- 415-500 nm
- 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)
- Mounted
Item 2, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-4-M
- VIPA
- 725-875 nm
- 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)
- Mounted
Item 3, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-8-M
- VIPA
- 1500-1700 nm
- 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)
- Mounted
Item 4, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-17-M
- VIPA
- 350-400 nm
- 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)
- Mounted
Market research for Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs) yielded Light Machinery, Inc. as the sole vendor capable of offering these highly specialized devices. All other references to VIPAs found through market research were devices custom built in academic laboratories, which are not commercially available. Interchanges with Light Machinery, Inc. have yielded that they do not maintain a network of resellers for their products and are the sole-source provider. For these reasons, the Government has
determined Light Machinery, Inc. to be the sole-source provider of the required VIPAs.
This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to cody.owens.4@us.af.mil. Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.
Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 15 May 2025.
A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.
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