Sources Sought - Scanning Electron Microscope

Sources Sought

This is not a solicitation

Synopsis The United States Air Force, AFLCMC/PZIB, Wright-Patterson AFB is conducting Market Research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, to identify possible sources for a Scanning Electron Microscope, which will be purchased for the Aerospace Fuels Laboratory (AFPET/PTPLH) located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Specifications for the required equipment are included in Attachment 1 entitled “Statement of Work.” Please be advised This Sources Sought is solely for information and planning, the intended purpose is to identify potential sources that may be able to produce a Scanning Electron Microscope meeting the requirement. This Sources Sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or any promise to issue an RFP in the future.

Furthermore, AFPET is not currently seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This Sources Sought notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for any information/administrative costs incurred by responding to this Sources Sought. All costs associated with responding to this Sources Sought will be solely at the responding party’s expense.

All submissions will become Government property and will not be returned. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor SAM.gov for additional information pertaining to this Sources Sought. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto for any subsequent action. However, a small business set-aside decision has not yet been made. Any information submitted by respondents to this Sources Sought is voluntary.

All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a Department of Defense (DoD) contract. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any Government assessments. The Government’s assessment of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small business or any small business program.

Description This acquisition is for a Scanning Electron Microscope to be used for labs and testing at AFPET. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this acquisition is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The business size standard is 1,000 employees. For more detailed requirements, see the attached Statement of Work.

Instructions Firms responding should indicate socio-economic status (8(a) with Graduation Date, SDVOSB, EDWOSB, WOSB, small business, and/or HUBZone). Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a foreign-owned/foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. All interested firms shall submit a capabilities package that explicitly demonstrates their capability to provide the required equipment.

The capabilities package should be brief and concise yet clearly demonstrate an ability to meet the stated requirements. Respondents should note the potential application of Limitations on Subcontracting (FAR 52.219-14) and the Non-Manufacturer Rule (FAR 52.219-33) to a future acquisition that may result from this Sources Sought.

Respondents should consider how the primary tasks identified in this notice will be broken out between prime contractors and subcontractors and address subcontracting in their response, if applicable/necessary. Capabilities Packages submitted in response to this Sources Sought must be received at matthew.shofner.1@us.af.mil and amanda.hoyng@us.af.mil no later than 1:00 PM ET Tuesday, 22 July 2025. Only inquiries/information received by this date will be considered.

All correspondence sent via e-mail shall contain a subject line that reads “Sources Sought – Scanning Electron Microscope.” If this subject line is not included, the email may not get through email filters at WPAFB. Filters are designed to delete emails without a subject line or with a suspicious subject or attachments. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xlsx, or .xls documents are attached to your email.

All other attachments may be deleted. Please direct all questions concerning this acquisition to 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Shofner at matthew.shofner.1@us.af.mil and to Amanda Hoyng at amanda.hoyng@us.af.mil and include the necessary subject line indicated above. Attachments Statement of Work Instructions for Sources Sought