The 10CONS/LGCB, Contracting Squadron, USAF Academy intends to award a sole source purchase order for Preventative Maintenance on an FEI Hilos Nano Lab 600 from FEI Company (FEI), 5350 NE Dawson Crk Dr, Hillsboro OR 97124.  This procurement is for the acquisition of a sole source commercial item using simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR Part 12 and 13.  The contract line items are as follows:

Service/Preventative Maintenance for the FEI Hilos Nano Lab 600 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) In Accordance With the Statement of Work for the FEI SEM Maintenance for one (1) year.  Service is to be performed at the USAF Academy.

This notice document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Fac 2005-55, Effective 03 Jan 2012. The North American Industry Classification System Code [NAICS] is 811219 and the size standard is $19M.

Sole Source Justification:  This is a procurement for the USAF Academy Department of Engineering Mechanics which currently is doing research utilizing the FEI Hilos Nano Lab 600 SEM.  In order to proceed with future research,  the USAF Academy Department of Engineering Mechanics needs to service and maintain the FEI SEM in order to continue their research without interruption.  FEI is the only manufacturer authorized  provider of FEI repair parts and services.  While a variety of similar services are available, only FEI has access to Manufacturer trained and certified technician and FEI repair parts.  Other manufactures and maintainers declined to offer the service because they were not qualified to work on the FEI SEM.  Only FEI Company is technically qualified and willing to maintain the highly technical servicing of the Hilos Nano Lab 600 SEM.

Service is to be performed at the U.S. Air Force Academy CO 80840.

This synopsis is for notification purposes only and THIS IS NOT A REQUEST for bids or proposals. DO NOT SUBMIT A QUOTE AT THIS TIME.

Any offerors believing they can meet the governments requirements for this acquistion have the burden and responsibility to provide documentation that substantiates their products are equal to or better by demonstrating their product, at a minimum, has the same features and functionality of the sole source service products. The offeror should provide an understandable comparison between the two products along with brochures, specifications, and any other useful information for government consideration.  All qualified sources may submit a response, which if timely received, will be considered by this agency. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a brand name or equal procurement can be conducted. A determination that equal products exist based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses must be received 1:00 pm Mountain Time, 1 May 2012 at 10 CONS/ LGCB. Responses received after this will be considered late IAW FAR 52.212-1(f) and will not be evaluated.

The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this synopsis. Contractors must have a current registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov and with Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at http://orca.bpn.gov.

Questions should be addressed to the Primary POC Aaron Schulz, Contracting Specialist, (719) 333-2327 or sent via e-mail to [email protected]. Alternate POC is Diana Myles-South, Contracting Officer, (719) 333-8650, [email protected].

5352.201-9101 OMBUDSMAN (APR 2010)

(a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the party to another official who can resolve the concern.

(b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions).

(c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, concerned parties may contact the USAF Academy Ombudsmen,

Kelly Snyder
8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 103
USAFA, CO 80840
Telephone number 719-333-2074
FAX 719-333-9018
email: [email protected]
Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the MAJCOM/DRU level, may be brought by the concerned party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (703) 588-7004, facsimile number (703) 588-1067.
(d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.
(e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer.
(End of clause)