Intent to Sole Source: Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Machine: Maintenance and User Training

INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The United States Air Force, AFLCMC/PZIBA, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433-5344 publishes this notice of intent to award a sole source contract for informational purposes only. This proposed action is for the acquisition of Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) maintenance and training for the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) located at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433.

The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of RFO 6.103-1(b), “One responsible source. Agencies may contract without providing for full and open competition when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements”, resulting in a firm fixed price contract. To ensure mission readiness and data integrity for AFIT teaching and research, it is recommended to award a sole-source contract to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Life Technologies Corporation (a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific). Only the OEM possesses proprietary training, specialized calibration tools, and software access required to maintain this complex system. Utilizing an unauthorized third-party vendor will immediately void existing OEM support and introduces severe schedule risks that would delay critical Fall 2026 academic and research deliverables. The Contracting Officer has determined that only one source is reasonably available: Life Technologies Corporation (a division of ThermoFisher Scientific).

This proposed procurement will be a Sole Source under North American Industry Classification System code (NAICS) 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,000 employees. 

The proposed source is Life Technologies Corporation (a division of ThermoFisher Scientific), 5781 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, quotation, or exception to the intent to purchase on a sole source basis, which shall be considered by the Government if received within five (5) days of this notice. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has determined the System for Award Management (SAM) to be the single DoD registration for contractors who conduct business or who are interested in conducting business with the DoD.  Contractors must be registered in SAM prior to award for contracts issued after 29 May 2012.  You may contact SAM at 866-606-8220. SAM website:  www.SAM.gov.

The contact for this acquisition is Dametria Walder and Claire Hess. Any information should be e-mailed to dametria.walder@us.af.mil and claire.hess@us.af.mil no later than 11:00 am EDT, Monday, 03 August 2026. Only inquiries/information received by this date will be considered.

Be advised that all correspondence sent via e-mail shall contain a subject line that reads “FA860126Q0108 AFIT qPCR maintenance and training.” Note that e-mail filters at Wright-Patterson AFB are designed to filter e-mails without subject lines or with suspicious subject lines or contents (i.e., .exe, or .zip files).  Therefore, if this subject line is not included, the e-mail may not get through the e-mail filters.  Also, be advised that .zip or .exe files are not allowable attachments and may be deleted by the e-mail filters at Wright-Patterson AFB.  If sending attachments with e-mail ensure only .PDF, .doc, or .xls documents are sent.  The e-mail filter may delete any other form of attachments.

Attachments:

1. Statement of Work
2. Redacted Sole Source Justification