Notice of Intent to Sole Source Electro-Optic Modulators

The 10th Contracting Squadron, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Colorado intends to make a Sole Source award to Conoptics Inc. for the purchase of (3) Electro-Optic Modulators and Mounting Equipment. This procurement is for the acquisition of a brand name as a sole source commercial item using simplified procedures in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) number is 333314 and the business size standard is 500 employees. Requirement: (3) Conoptics Electro-Optic Modulators - model number 350-160-02, (3) Modulator Mounts - model number 102, and (3) DC-to-30 MHz Bandwidth, 8ns Rise/Fall Time 175V Output - model number 25D. Sole Source Justification: Only one responsible source and no other item will satisfy the USAFA requirement. Conoptics, Inc. is the only approved source for the Electro-Optic Modulators and Mounting Equipment. Conoptics electro-optic modulators are proprietary because they are designed and manufactured to work exclusively with the associated amplifiers that provide the required switching risetimes of < 10 nsec. The switching risetime of < 10 nsec is a necessary requirement in order to be able to interface with the existing Titanium: Sapphire and external cavity diode lasers. In addition to these requirements, the exact model is required in order to eliminate the cost of re-designing the current system. This synopsis is for notification purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids or proposals. DO NOT submit a bid/quote at this time. Any offerors believing they can provide the required brand name Conoptics Inc. Electro-Optic Modulators and Mounting Equipment with all specifications of the requirement described above may provide evidence for consideration. Evidence must support the offeror's claim. 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 competitive procurement can be conducted. A determination not to compete this proposed procurement based on response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses must be received NLT 1:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST) on 8 January 2015. 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 announcement. Contractors must have a current registration within the System for Award Management (SAMS)https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ Questions should be addressed to Grace Podoll, Contract Specialist, +1 (555) 000-0000 or sent via e-mail to contact@example.gov CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY FULL TEXT: 5352.201-9101 Ombudsman (April 2014): (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 +1 (555) 000-0000 FAX +1 (555) 000-0000 email: contact@example.gov 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 +1 (555) 000-0000, facsimile number +1 (555) 000-0000. (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)