Opportunity

SAM #FA860127Q0011

Air Force seeks one calibrated 1.5–5 micron midwave camera system

Buyer

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

Posted

October 14, 2026

Respond By

October 29, 2026

Identifier

FA860127Q0011

NAICS

334516, 334511, 423410

The U.S. Air Force is seeking a complete, calibrated midwave camera system for the Air Force Institute of Technology. - Government buyer: Department of the Air Force; Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT/EN). Contracting office details identified in the notice are the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Installation Contracting Division, Base Support Contracting Branch, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. - OEMs and vendors: No camera OEM, vendor, model, or part number is named in the notice or attachment. - Products requested: One midwave camera system covering 1.5–5 microns, with 25 mm, 50 mm, and 200 mm focal-length options. It includes a computer controller, analysis software, protective case, a four-position-or-greater configurable filter wheel, and three blank filter holders. - Key performance requirements: Temperature measurement from -20°C to 3,000°C without removing or replacing filters or filter wheels; full-frame rate above 1 kHz; on-device recording for more than one hour at full frame rate; exposure time of 300 nanoseconds or less at full frame rate; at least a 640 × 512 focal-plane array; trigger input; real-time temperature calibration; and operation from -10°C to 45°C. The system must also include calibrated camera, lenses, and filters, with a mounting mechanism that prevents rotation and optics with minimum focal length below 5 meters. - Services and delivery: Shipping, instrument and lens calibration, and delivery of the lens and calibration data, including transportation and handling through final onsite setup. - Schedule and warranty: Complete delivery and other requirements within 90 days after contract award. The equipment must have a two-year warranty after receipt. - Opportunity context: This is market research to identify capable sources; the notice does not specify a quantity beyond the attachment’s one camera system, or identify an award value.

Description

Notice from the United States Air Force, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Installation Contracting Division, Base Support Contracting Branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio:

The AFLCMC Operational Contracting Branch, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is seeking capabilities packages of potential sources including Small Businesses (SB). This sources sought synopsis is published for market research purposes only, to identify potential sources capable of delivering a Midwave Camera with the capabilities described herein for the Air Force Institute of Technology, located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (WPAFB).

The Government is seeking capabilities packages from all potential sources, including but not limited to: small business (SB), 8(a) participants, HUBZone Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Firms that respond shall review the attached instructions and technical requirements and submit responses that:

Specify that offered products meet the specifications provided below; and Provide detailed information to show clear technical compliance.

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/QUOTES.

All interested firms shall submit a response to the Primary Points of Contact, Ms. Claire Hess at claire.hess@us.af.mil and Ms. Jessica Stamper at jessica.stamper.2@us.af.mil, demonstrating their capability to provide a Midwave Camera. Responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. A solicitation for this requirement does not exist, therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract will be solely within the Government's discretion.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this acquisition is

334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a small business-size standard of 1,000 employees. Firms responding should indicate socio-economic status (8(a) with Graduation Date, SDVOSB, EDWOSB, WOSB, small business, and/or HUBZone). Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a foreign-owned/foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto for any subsequent action. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a Department of Defense (DoD) contract. A small business set-aside decision has not yet been made.

Respondents should note the potential application of Limitations on Subcontracting (RFO 52.219-14) and the Non-Manufacturer Rule (RFO 52.219-33) to a future acquisition that may result from this Sources Sought. Respondents should consider how the primary tasks identified in this notice will be broken out between prime contractor and subcontractors and address subcontracting in their response, if applicable/necessary.

Any information submitted by respondents to this Sources Sought is voluntary. This Sources Sought notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government reimburse any costs associated with the submission of information in response to this notice. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any Government assessments. The Government's assessment of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small business or any particular small business program.

CAPABILITIES PACKAGE:

All interested firms shall submit a capabilities package to provide the Midwave Camera that explicitly demonstrates their capability to provide the required service. The capabilities package should be brief and concise yet clearly demonstrate an ability to meet the stated requirements. However, the response must not exceed five (5) pages. Capabilities Packages submitted in response to this sources sought synopsis must be received at the following e-mail addresses NO LATER THAN 29 OCTOBER 2026 AT 3:00 PM EASTERN TIME.

All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads: Midwave Camera. If this subject line is not included, the email may not get through email filters at WPAFB. Filters are designed to delete emails without a subject or with a suspicious subject or attachments. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xlsx or .xls documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.

Responses shall be submitted via email to the following addresses: claire.hess@us.af.mil and jessica.stamper.2@us.af.mil

Please direct all questions concerning this acquisition to Ms. Claire Hess at claire.hess@us.af.mil and include the necessary subject line indicated above.

Attachments:

Instructions Technical Requirements

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