Optics Components and Mounts

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under the FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.  This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334515 with a small business size standard of 750 employees.

The Government requires the purchase of Optic Components and Mounts, and intends to negotiate a sole-source award for this requirement with ThorLabs, Inc., 43 Sparta Ave. Newton, NJ 07860, for their Optic Components. A description is as follows:

Two (2) GT5 5.0mm CA Glan Taylor Polarizer; three (3) LA1131-A Ø25.4 F=50.0 N-BK7 A Coated Plano Convex Lens; four (4) LA1908-A Ø25.4 F=500.0 N-BK7 A Coated Plano Convex Lens; two (2) GR25-1208 Grating, Ruled, 1200/mm, 750nm Blaze, 25X25X6mm; five (5) S1TM06 SM1 to 6mm Lens Cell Adapter; ten (10) POLARIS-K05 Ultra Stable Mirror Mount For 1/2" Optics TTN005703, 21313, Ultra Stable Mirror Mount For 1/2" Optics; ten (10) POLARIS-K05S1 Two Adjuster 1/2" Mirror Mount TTN023689, Two Adjuster 1/2" Mirror Mount; ten (10) POLARIS-K05S2 Two Adjuster Locking 1/2" Mirror Mount TTN023686, Two Adjuster Locking 1/2" Mirror Mount; six (6) F240SMA-532 Fiber Collimation Package, .=532 nm, f= 7.87mm, SMA; twenty (20) BB0511-E02 Ø12.7mm Zerodur Broadband Mirror, -E02 coated; thirty (30) BB111-E02 Ø25.4mm Zerodur Broadband Mirror, -E02 Coated; three (3) 151-411ME 50MM Travel Micrometer head, 3/8in barrel, spherical tip TTN145488, 50MM Travel Micrometer head, 3/8in barrel, spherical tip; thirty-seven (37) POLARIS-K1E Polaris® Ø1” Mid-Level Side Retention Mirror Mount, 3 adj. TTN234139, Polaris® Ø1” Mid-Level Side Retention Mirror Mount, 3 Adjusters with knobs; thirty-seven (37) POLARIS-K1E3 Polaris® Ø1” Mid-Level Side Retention Mirror Mount, 3 adj. TTN234142, Polaris® Ø1” Mid-Level Side Retention Mirror Mount, 3 Low-Profile Hex Adjusters.

The Government has determined that other companies’ products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet the Government’s needs.  The required ThorLabs Optic Components and Mounts are expected for uses for these components include environmental temperature variations that are higher-than usual for a laboratory environment, placing repeatability and stability under temperature variations as a key parameter. In particular for 1/2" mounts,  thermal hysteresis must be < 2 urad, and for 1" mounts < 3 urad.  Additionally, existing designs use the alignment pins of these mounts to ensure good mechanical alignment within very limited space. Redesigning existing mount setups to provide similar mechanical alignment.  Optical components need to be drop-in compatible with existing optical setups, both for maintenance and for reproducing similar setups. The additional time needed to alter, design, and implement these designs/setups with alternative components would result in a duplication of costs not expected to be recovered through competition. ThorLabs, Inc. is the sole manufacturer and distributor of these Optic Components and Mounts.

This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive quotes; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or quote, which shall be considered by the agency.  All inquiries should be emailed to Tiffany Slopka, tiffany.slopka@us.af.mil.

Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.

Responses received will be evaluated; however a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 31 July 2023.

A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.