Notice of Intent to Sole Source USAFA Wearable Performance Monitoring Ring Devices
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 United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) intends to award a sole-source, Firm-Fixed-Price contract to Ouraring Inc. for 50 wearable smart ring performance monitoring devices. These devices are required by the USAFA Dean of Faculty Department of Biology (DFBI) to measure biometric data and provide insights into human performance and sleep quality for Cadets. This is a Notice of Intent to Sole Source, and a formal solicitation will not be issued. However, responsible sources believing they can meet the requirements may submit a capability statement.
Scope of Requirement
The USAFA DFBI requires 50 wearable smart ring performance monitoring devices with the following salient characteristics:
- Accommodate ring sizes 6 through 15.
- Measure blood oxygen levels, heart rate and heart rate variability, body temperature variations, movement and activity, respiratory rates, and quantity and quality of sleep.
- Data collected must provide a minimum of 75% agreement with a polysomnography sleep lab test.
- Feature a rechargeable battery that lasts a minimum of 5 days.
- Include an enterprise software solution that collects and analyzes data from all devices into a single instance for fleet research.
- Devices must connect to this enterprise software application and not to the individual user, allowing easy transfer.
- The associated software shall not have any AI features or capabilities.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Notice of Intent to Sole Source)
- Contract Vehicle: Firm-Fixed-Price (intended)
- Intended Awardee: Ouraring Inc.
- NAICS Code: 339920
- Product Service Code: 7810 (Athletic And Sporting Equipment)
- Place of Performance: USAF Academy, CO
- Response Due: May 18, 2026, 11:00 AM MDT
- Published: May 14, 2026
Justification for Sole Source
The Government has determined that Ouraring Inc. is the only source reasonably available. Market research confirmed that standard commercial smart rings utilize AI/algorithmic processing, but Ouraring Inc. is the only manufacturer capable of providing a specialized configuration (the "Oura Research Application") that disables prohibited AI features to comply with Air Force cybersecurity mandates. Additionally, Ouraring Inc. is the only known source capable of producing mandatory ring sizes 14 and 15 and meeting the strict 75% polysomnography agreement standard. No authorized third-party enterprise resellers were identified that could fulfill this requirement without unacceptable supply chain risk.
Response Information
This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. Any responsible source that believes it can meet these requirements may submit a capability statement. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination not to compete this action is solely within the discretion of the Government.
Submit capability statements to: Nicole Cibula (nicole.cibula@us.af.mil) and Amy Krause (amy.krause.1@us.af.mil).