SOLE SOURCE - DEVELOP HOLLOW CORE FIBER OPTICS

This is a combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 –Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation will be posted for less than fifteen (15) days in accordance with FAR 5.203(a)(2).

Request for Quote (RFQ) number is N6660425Q0158. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) intends to award a Sole Source Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order to the University of Central Florida for the development and acquisition of a hollow-core fiber optics. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Information received will normally be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive requirement in the future.

Required delivery is a period of performance February 2025 to February 2026. This procurement is unrestricted as concurred with by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and Small Business Administration Procurement Center Representative (SBA PCR). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380. The Small Business Size Standard is $19.0 Million.

Incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the most current Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC).

The following clauses and provisions apply to this solicitation: - FAR 52.209-11, Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law (FEB 2016) - FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Products and Commercial Services - FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items; - - FAR 52.212-3 ALT 1 – Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items Alternate 1 - FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items; - FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items; The following DFARS clauses apply to this solicitation: 252.204-7008, Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls 252.204- 7009, Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Third-Party Contractor Reported Cyber Incident Information 252.204-7012, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting 252.204-7015, Notice of Authorized Disclosure of Information for Litigation Support 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services apply to this solicitation.

Full text of incorporated FAR/DFARS clauses and provisions are may be accessed electronically at https://acquisition.gov/far/ and https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html. The use in this solicitation of any Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 1) clause with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of “(Deviation)” after the date of the clause. Payment will be via Procurement Integrity Enterprise Environment (PIEE) (formerly known as Wide Area Workflow (WAWF)).

This solicitation requires an active registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award, pursuant to applicable regulations and guidelines. Registration information can be found at www.sam.gov. For information on this acquisition contact Jennifer Vatousiou at jennifer.m.vatousiou.civ@us.navy.mil The NUWC Laser Transduction Lab’s (LTL) research efforts in Opto-acoustic sound generation requires the development and acquisition of a hollow-core fiber optics.

Suitable off the shelf solutions cannot be used due to the stringent requirements of the LTL’s optical system, necessitating a custom designed and manufactured hollow-core fiber. Due to restrictions imposed by the grant funding source, the hollow-core manufacturing partner must be a Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965. Additionally, the manufacturing partner must have a fiber draw tower to support in house development of the hollow-core fiber design.

The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) Fiber Optic Fabrication Facility (FOFF) owns and operates the necessary facilities to manufacture and characterize hollow-core fibers including but not limited to fiber draw towers. Additionally, UCF is officially recognized as an HSI by the Department of Education and is the only such institute to own and operate the required facilities to manufacture hollow-core fiber optics for the LTL.