Notice of Intent to Award to Sole Source - Contact Angle Analysis
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to award a sole source, firm fixed price contract to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP. for highly specialized surface characterization and microscopy testing of hospital curtain materials. This action is justified by the unique instrumentation and historical data comparability requirements. Responses from interested parties are due by January 28, 2026.
Scope of Work
The requirement involves advanced surface characterization and microscopy testing, including:
- Contact angle analysis
- Zeta potential
- Surface roughness measurement
- Surface charge analysis
- Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging
These analyses must be performed using specific instrumentation and standardized calibration settings to ensure data is directly comparable to prior CDC testing on similar materials.
Justification for Sole Source
Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is identified as the only source capable of meeting the government's minimum needs due to:
- Possession of the required advanced analytical instrumentation (SEM with EDX, ZetaSizer, RAME-HART contact angle system, LEXT confocal microscopy).
- Prior experience conducting the same analyses for CDC on similar materials using these exact instruments and established measurement parameters.
- Maintenance of historical measurement parameters, instrument configurations, and calibration records essential for data continuity, validity, and scientific comparability.
Market research indicated no other facilities possess the complete suite of required instruments or the capability to perform all analyses on porous polymer materials using the same methodologies, equipment, and calibration protocols as GTRI. Awarding to another source would introduce unacceptable technical risk and invalidate prior analytical baselines.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Firm Fixed Price, Sole Source (Presolicitation)
- NAICS: 541380 - Testing Laboratories and Services
- Set-Aside: None specified (sole source)
- Response Due: January 28, 2026, 06:00 AM ET
- Published: January 13, 2026
- Place of Performance: Atlanta, GA
Response Information
This notice is an intent to award, not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond. All responses received within fifteen (15) days of issuance will be considered. The government retains discretion on whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Information received will be used to determine if a competitive procurement is feasible. Quotations/responses should be emailed to Ruben Reyes at qmz3@cdc.gov.