Notice of Intent to Sole Source

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Exploration Robotics Technologies Inc. for Methane Emission Sensor and Xplorobot Software. The Xplorobot Laser Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) platform, offered by Exploration Robotics Technologies Inc., meets the technical specifications required for the mission.

Of primary interest is that the instrument uses Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) for methane identification and together with integrated weather data, the system can quantify methane emissions down to 1 gram per hour (1 g/h). Additionally, the instrument generates a real-time two-dimensional methane concentration image overlay and data are available on a map-based data dashboard.

Xplorobot is the only vendor that has a real-time 3D co-located emission visualization capability and visual data stream. Xplorobot is the only vendor with an integrated TDLAS with visual camera and a wind sensor for simultaneous parts per million meter (PPM-M) and wind measurements that are required for quantification of the emission rates in grams per hour. At current, Xplorobot has a patent application pending for this integration.

In addition, the Xplorobot TDLAS sensor has a significantly narrower aperture and, in combination with proprietary software, results in accuracy exceeding not only all other TDLAS solutions but also the accuracy of infrared OGI cameras. To the best of NETL's knowledge no alternate sources exist which could satisfy our requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for quote/proposal.

Any interested party that believes it is capable of meeting the NETL requirement described herein may identify themselves and must provide evidence of their capability to fulfill the requirement by 3:30 PM ET on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Responses must be submitted in writing to the Contract Specialist via email at Cynthia.Madison@netl.doe.gov, no later than the time and date noted above. Telephone responses and requests will not be received.

A determination by the Government to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.