NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE forGatan ancillary instrument systems Maintenance Service Agreement

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory is seeking to sole-source a Firm Fixed Price maintenance service agreement for five Gatan ancillary instrument systems—three XEDS and two EBSD units—attached to electron microscopes at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The solicitation, issued under the number W911QX26QA082 and posted on May 26, 2026, is structured as a combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial purchases under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold and is intended for award to Gatan, Inc., leveraging FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) for sole-source justification. The base period of performance is one year, with two optional one-year extension periods that may be exercised sequentially to extend coverage to all five systems, ensuring continuous operational support without interruption. Performance will occur entirely on-site at the Army Research Laboratory facility, with contractor personnel required to comply with strict facility access protocols, including security clearances, Personal Identity Verification under FAR 52.204-9, and adherence to Army Directive 2014-05 for those without a CAC. All services must include OEM-authorized routine maintenance, unlimited emergency repairs at no additional cost, 24/7 availability with responses within 48 hours, and scheduled inspections, alignment, and cleaning, with replacement parts—excluding consumables—covered under the agreement. The contract mandates full compliance with U.S. Department of Defense standards, particularly MIL-STD-130 for Unique Item Identification using two-dimensional Data Matrix symbology and MIL-STD-129 for shipment and storage container labeling, ensuring traceability and accountability. Cybersecurity and supply chain integrity are enforced through DFARS clauses 252.204-7012 and 252.204-7018, requiring safeguarding of covered defense information and prohibiting the use of certain telecommunications equipment from restricted entities. The delivery and performance location is specified as Building 321 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, with F.O.B. Destination terms applying under DFARS 252.247-34. The Government assumes responsibility for inspection and acceptance at the site, using the Material Inspection and Receiving Report (MIRR), while all invoices must be submitted electronically through Wide Area WorkFlow. Payment will be processed via the HQ0490 DoDAAC using appropriate accounting classifications, and Maryland sales tax exemption is applicable. The contracting