This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items 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 PROPOSAL. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334413 with a size standard of 1,250 employees.

Brief Description of Requirement:

AFRL requires the purchase of a Rb Frequency Standard Laser System that integrates with existing systems and has the smallest footprint and noise. A turn-key atomic reference laser system is to be used as an etalon for all other lasers in the lab. The system comprises a D2-005 Power Supply with linear design that eliminate switching noise at ~100kHz, a D2-105 Laser Controller featuring <100 nA rms noise and >3 GHz modulation, a D2-100-DBR Laser featuring all-electronic tuning, not susceptible to vibration, with anamorphic prism pair & optical isolator embedded in a small package (3.75 x 3.975 x 1.7"), and a D2-210 Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy Module with magnetic shielding, also in a small package (3.62 × 4.98 × 1.7").

The Government intends to negotiate a sole-source contract with the manufacturer of the required system:

Vescent Photonics
6770 W. 52nd Ave, Suite B
Arvada, CO 80002

The Government has determined that no other source can meet the requirements for this laser system. Vescent Photonics is the only producer of the highly specialized system providing a turn-key atomic reference laser system is to be used as an etalon for all other lasers in the lab. The system described above demonstrates the unique capability of the source to satisfy the particular research needs, which is the smallest advertised current noise. The system integrates with existing equipment currently in use, which further reduces procurement cost, and operation and maintenance overhead. Award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

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. Responses to this notice 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 30 June 2017.

"Notice to Offeror(s)/Suppliers(s): Funds are not presently available for this effort. No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an Offeror for any costs."

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate
26 Electronic Parkway
Rome, New York 13441
United States