Notice of Intent to Sole Source to Hopewell Design

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory (RESL) / Department of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program (DOELAP) intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price purchase order to Hopewell Designs, Inc. (HDI) for the acquisition of a customized neutron irradiator, radiation area safety monitor, motorized rotational stage, and integrated precision alignment jigs/fixtures under Quote P7707R1-DOELAP-N40.

The specific equipment includes:

1. Model N40-1-A Neutron Irradiator System with automated pneumatic source shutter, custom lead/polyethylene shielding, and control computer pre-loaded with proprietary Automated Irradiator Software (AIS).

2. Model RadARM-N Radiation Area Monitor with safety interlock output relay and moderated neutron detector.

3. Model R-axis-A Custom Motorized Rotational Stage, precision-calibrated for angular dependence studies.

4. Model LaserAlign-WM & LaserAlign-LPS Alignment Systems, including specialized custom brackets for precise wall/track mounting and phantom alignment.

5. Model Inst-Jig & Jig-Ion-1X-1Y-2M Precision Placement Jigs for repeatable ion chamber and instrument positioning..

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), as only one source is reasonably available to fulfill the government's requirements:

• Proprietary Integration: The existing DOELAP calibration facility relies exclusively on custom LabVIEW-based software and safety interlock architectures engineered and owned by HDI. No other manufacturer has access to HDI’s proprietary source code or system drivers.

• Form, Fit, and Function: To maintain strict metrological traceability required by 10 CFR 835, newly introduced automated rotational stages and alignment lasers must integrate directly into the existing HDI physical hardware and software control loops. Procuring third-party hardware would lead to catastrophic safety interlock incompatibility, software fragmentation, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in redundant engineering integration and validation costs.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, any interested party that believes it can provide the exact fully integrated systems without violating proprietary software protections or system interlock safety chains may submit a capability statement.

Capability statements must be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist at hawkespd@id.doe.gov no later than September 28, 2026 by 11:59 pm EST. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.