Sigma SEM
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 DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE, specifically AFSC PZIMB, has awarded a sole source, firm fixed-price contract for the procurement of one Zeiss Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) with incidental services. This acquisition is for the Metallurgical Lab at Tinker Air Force Base, OK, to replace nonfunctional and obsolete equipment. The contract was awarded to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, following a Justification and Approval (J&A) process.
Scope of Work
The contract covers the procurement, shipping, assembly, installation, verification, calibration, testing, and training for the Zeiss FESEM. The FESEM is critical for supporting first article testing, production support, prototypes, reverse engineering, failure analysis, and mishap investigations. Key technical requirements include sufficient resolution, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, reproducibility, and correlative microscopy capabilities with existing Zeiss instruments. An Oxford system sub-assembly detector for qualitative chemical analysis and crystallographic mapping on metal alloys, with backwards compatibility, is also required.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: One-time, sole source, commercial, firm fixed-price (FFP) contract.
- Estimated Delivery/Period of Performance: 7 months After Receipt of Order (ARO).
- Funding Source: Capital Investment Fund (CIP).
- Published Date: June 18, 2026.
Evaluation
This was a sole source procurement, not a solicitation for proposals. The contract was awarded in accordance with FAR Part 12 and utilized Simplified Acquisition Procedures (FAR Subpart 13.5). Price analysis was performed per FAR 13.106-3(a)(2).
Eligibility / Set-Aside
This acquisition was conducted as a sole source procurement and was not subject to small business set-asides.
Additional Notes
The statutory authority cited for this sole source acquisition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and 10 U.S.C. 2302(b), implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and DAFFARS 5313.501(a)(1)(ii). Market research, including DSBS, SAM, and vendor outreach, indicated Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC as the only capable source. The government will continue to monitor the market for future acquisitions.