NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - J.A. Wollam IR-VASE® Mark II Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer

The U.S. Army Contracting Office at Adelphi, Maryland, is issuing a notice of intent to sole source the acquisition of one IR-VASE® Mark II Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer from J.A. Woollam Co., Inc., under solicitation W911QX26QA077. This acquisition is being conducted as a commercial item procurement under FAR Subpart 12.6, with a strict deadline of May 20, 2026, for responses. The system must meet specific technical requirements detailed in the attached Salient Characteristics document, including a spectral range of 1.7 to 25+ micrometers, seamless integration with the existing Linkam HFSEL600 hot/cold stage capable of temperatures exceeding 1000°C, compatibility with prior JA Woollam RC2 data systems, and the inclusion of automated rotation and manual X-Y translation stages. Delivery, installation, and operator training are required at the Logistics Warehouse, Building 321, 6375 Johnson Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 21005, with full performance expected within 180 days of contract award. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price acquisition with no contract financing permitted under FAR 32.003, and payment must be processed through the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) system. F.O.B. Destination terms apply, meaning the vendor is responsible for all transportation risks and packaging until delivery at the government facility, necessitating compliance with DFARS clauses for shipment by sea and Item Unique Identification (IUID) labeling per MIL-STD-130. The system is subject to multiple defense-specific compliance requirements, including the Buy American Act, prohibition on sourcing from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and restrictions on covered defense telecommunications equipment. Duty-free entry is authorized, and the government’s tax-exempt status under ARL applies. Although the solicitation does not provide pricing details or an estimated contract value, the intent to award on a sole-source basis implies the vendor is the only source capable of meeting the specialized technical specifications, and award will likely follow a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) approach based on full compliance with salient characteristics. All proposals must be submitted electronically to Meghan Dumler, and the vendor must maintain active SAM registration and comply with all applicable reporting and representation clauses, including those for executive compensation, trafficking in persons,