Laboratory Analysis Services

The Headquarters Air Force Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance Agency (HQ AF ISR Agency/A7KR) intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis with Schafer Corporation, Chelmsford, MA to process and analyze particle samples as described in the sources sought notice posted 02 Nov 2012. The services to be acquired are primarily concerned with separation, manipulation, analysis, and identification of particulate matter for the purpose of nuclear test ban treaty verification. This sole source acquisition is justified under 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Evaluation of the contractor's unique capability and acquisition history concluded that the highly specialized effort required is available from only one source. A firm-fixed-priced Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with a five (5) year ordering period is anticipated. Contractor personnel require DoD security clearances of at least the SECRET NO FOREIGN level and participation requires facilities, storage and secure communication capabilities security clearance of at least the SECRET NO FOREIGN level. A Nuclear Regulatory approved Radioactive Materials License is required. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and size standard are 541380/$14.0 million. The clause at Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation (AFFARS) 5352.201-9101, Ombudsman, (Nov 2012) is applicable to this notice and follows below. (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 interested 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, the interested party may contact the ombudsman, Ms. Veronica Solis, HQ AF ISR Agency/A4-7, 102 Hall Street, Ste 258, San Antonio, TX 78243-7091 (P) 210-977-4505, (F) 210-977-6414, e-mail: veronica.solis@us.af.mil. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the Center/MAJCOM/DRU/AFISRA ombudsman level, may be brought by the interested 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 (571) 256-2395, facsimile number (571) 256-2431. (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)