SAM #FA945327XQ001

AFRL seeks cyclotron beam time for proton irradiation testing

AFRL/RJ is assessing access to cyclotron facilities for proton irradiation testing of space-sensor components and materials. - Government buyer: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Warfare Directorate, Advanced Electro Optic Space Sensors (AEOSS) program. - Named provider: The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is the cyclotron facility identified in the notice. No equipment OEM or manufacturer is named. - Requested service: One continuous week of cyclotron access, including 40 hours of proton-beam time, for irradiation experiments on focal plane arrays, detectors, semiconductor devices, and material samples. The notice describes market research and a proposed sole-source arrangement with UC Davis to assess whether other capable facilities can meet the need. - Key beam requirements: Continuous, non-pulsed proton beam; energy up to 63 MeV and maximum current of 100 nA; flux from 100 to 10^10 protons/cm²/s; beam diameter of at least 3 inches, with larger preferred; greater than 95% beam uniformity within a 2.0 cm radius at high ion flux; and fluence uncertainty below 4% at 3.0 cm. External beam control and sole beam access during reserved weeks are required. - Facility and support requirements: Facility operators, Government personnel dosimeters or badges, use of the South Cave room for experimental setup, 24/7 building access during the beam-time week, and parking for an equipment trailer and up to four vehicles. The required duty cycle is 85%, or 6.8 usable beam hours per billed 8-hour shift. - Reporting: Provide a beam dosimetry report covering irradiation date and time, proton-beam LET and range, effective fluence, beam flux, live and dead time, and total ionizing dose; email it to the Government point of contact within one business day after Government personnel leave the facility. - Quantity and pricing: One service period is specified. No part number or contract value is provided.

Description

NOTICE OF CONTRACT ACTION (NOCA) – SOLE SOURCE – SOURCES SOUGHT

REQUIREMENT:

This requirement is for Cyclotron Beam Time for AFRL/RJ

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE and Notice of Proposed Contract Action under RFO Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This notice is for information only. A solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.  No contract will be awarded on the basis of voluntary information submitted in response to this notice. Respondents should not construe this notice as a commitment by the Air Force for any purpose.  

NAICS & SIZE STANDARD: NAICS Code: 541380, Size Standard: $19M

BRIEF DESCTIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

See attached Statement of Work for full details of the Government Requirement.

The U.S. Government currently intends to award a contract to University of California Davis for rental of its cyclotron to conduct heavy ion radiation beam time testing.

The statutory authority for the sole source procurement is pursuant to RFO Part 6 Competition Requirements (10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1)) and RFO Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services (41 U.S.C. 1901).

Pursuant to RFO Part 10, Market Research, the Government is issuing this Sources Sought for information, market research and planning purposes. Information gathered will be used to further the Government's understanding of market capabilities and to determine if the proposed acquisition can be competed.

The proposed sole source contract type will be determined after proper market research has been conducted.

This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Further, the Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this sources sought notice. The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice.

Submittals will not be returned to the responder.

A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this SOURCES SOUGHT or Government use of any information provided. The Government will not pay for any effort expended into responding to this sources sought announcement.

Interested parties should provide a statement of interest on company letterhead (not to exceed three (3) pages in length) and should demonstrate capability to provide a facility meeting the Government's requirements.

If you feel that your firm possesses the ability to provide these requirements, then you must respond by demonstrating your firm's technical capability to meet these requirements by the date/time specified to the Point of Contact identified below.

Any responses to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements. Only responses received by this date will be considered. 

All inquiries should be sent on or before 22 October 2026 by 9:00 a.m. EST by email to rosa.davis.2@spaceforce.mil and caroline.salazar.1@us.af.mil. 

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

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