Notice of Intent to Award to Sole Source - Contact Angle Analysis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to award a sole source, firm fixed price contract to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP.

This contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 12.102(a) (FAR Overhaul) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1). The North American Industry Classification System code for this procurement is 541380 - Testing Laboratories and Services. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responses received within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government.  A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract 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.  Any quotation/response should be emailed to the  contract specialist Ruben Reyes at qmz3@cdc.gov by 06:00AM, January 28, 2026.

JUSTIFICATION

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires highly specialized surface characterization and microscopy testing of hospital curtain materials, including contact angle analysis, zeta potential, surface roughness measurement, surface charge analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. These analyses must be performed using specific instrumentation and standardized calibration settings in order to generate data that is directly comparable to prior CDC testing performed on similar materials.

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) possesses the required combination of advanced analytical instrumentation, including SEM with EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), ZetaSizer, RAME-HART contact angle system, and LEXT confocal microscopy. GTRI previously conducted the same analyses for CDC on similar materials using these exact instruments and established measurement parameters. To ensure continuity, data validity, and scientific comparability, the same equipment and calibration settings must be used for the current testing. Only GTRI maintains the historical measurement parameters, instrument configurations, and calibration records necessary to ensure that new results can be accurately compared to prior CDC data.

Market research was conducted through internet searches and outreach to local universities and laboratories in the Metro Atlanta area. This research found that while some facilities may offer limited surface or microscopy services, none possess the complete suite of required instruments or the capability to perform all required analyses on porous polymer materials using the same methodologies, equipment, and calibration protocols as GTRI. 

Because the requirement involves both continuity with historical CDC test data and the use of a specific, highly specialized instrument suite, no other responsible source can meet the Government’s minimum needs without introducing unacceptable technical risk, loss of data comparability, and invalidation of prior analytical baselines. Accordingly, Georgia Tech Research Institute is the only source reasonably available that can perform the required work.