Notice of Intent to Noncompetitively Acquire Calibrated GUV Irradiance Probes

This notice is not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested. This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b).

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Physical Measurements Laboratory (PML) in conjunction with the Air Force are completing CCG Project #787, entitled Calibrated GUV Irradiance Probes to research and determine what are the best commercially available GUV probes.

The Air Force requires this research as the installations of germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) sources are increasing and the optical outputs of these GUV sources which operate in the spectral range from 200 nm to 300nm need to be measured to determine whether they are operating correctly for germicidal efficacy. The Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory (AFPSL) does not currently have calibrated UV optical probes which operate in the GUV range and thus cannot assess the efficacies of these installations.

NIST will acquire GUV probes and select the most suitable ones based upon tests for spectral responsivity, cosine response and long-term stability. These probes will then be calibrated for spectral irradiance responsivities in the NIST optical detector calibration facility, the Ultraviolet Spectral Comparator Facility (UVSCF). These probes will also be tested using spectral irradiance standard deuterium lamps.

To meet the mission NIST requires the procurement of two sets of three (3) calibrated GUV probes, one set centered at 220 nm and at 254 nm or at specified wavelengths chosen by the Air Force. NIST conducted market research in February 2025 by internet research and a review of previous Government purchase cards purchase cards was conducted by February 2024 to order the GUV probes for testing as required by the first phase of the contract.

The physical performance testing occurred in July and August of 2024 in order to present the data to the Air Force. Based on the above, selection of the probes to be purchased was based on the assessment of the Air Force office to determine the best probes to meet mission needs.

As only those probes that Air Force selected can meet requirements for the next phase this purchase is deemed only capable to be completed via Optical Associates Incorporated (UEI: QNGDEML8K6C6) However, any sources that believe they are capable of meeting NIST’s minimum requirements are encouraged to respond to this notice by the response date to provide the following information at a minimum: Company Unique Entity Identifier number in https://sam.gov; details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements; whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization; and any other information that can help NIST determine whether this requirement may be competitively satisfied.