Brand Name Agilent High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (HPLC-MS)

This Single Source Justification document outlines the Air Force Institute of Technology’s (AFIT) requirement to acquire a new High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (HPLC-MS) to replace an obsolete, 13-year-old system. The equipment is critical for AFIT's analytical chemistry mission to detect organic chemicals, pesticides, and chemical warfare agents in water. Under the authority of RFO 6.103-1 and FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), the contracting activity (AFLCMC/PZIBA) has justified a single-source award to Agilent Technologies. This restriction is necessary because all system components must originate from a single manufacturer to ensure seamless integration and compatibility with AFIT's existing, proprietary Agilent MassHunter Data Analysis Software. Procuring from an alternative vendor would cause severe mission delays and duplicate costs due to the need for extensive method re-validation and staff retraining. Market research efforts, including a Sources Sought notice published in June 2026, confirmed Agilent as the sole viable source. A late submission from an alternative vendor was evaluated but deemed technically unacceptable because its mass spectrometer required a 230V power source, which is incompatible with the laboratory’s 110V electrical supply. To foster future competition and avoid vendor lock-in, the agency plans to define future requirements by functional and physical characteristics rather than brand names. Additionally, the government will monitor emerging technologies and prioritize open-architecture platforms when the system eventually requires a complete replacement.

This federal Statement of Work (SOW) outlines requirements for procuring a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (HPLC-MS) for the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The system is a critical tool for organic chemical analysis in water, supporting engineering courses and research sponsored by the Air Force Civil Engineering Center. To ensure system compatibility and high-sensitivity quantitative analysis, the contractor must provide a component system from a single original equipment manufacturer (OEM), featuring a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with Electrospray and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization modes. Additional technical specifications include a Diode Array Detector, a cooled autosampler, a heated column compartment, a quaternary or binary pump system, compatibility with Mass Hunter software, and future upgradability for supercritical fluids. The system must be manufactured and assembled in the United States, utilizing domestic or qualifying country end products in compliance with the Buy American Act and DFARS regulations. Additionally, the manufacturer must guarantee parts and service support for at least ten years and provide a two-year warranty. Deliverables must be completed within three months of contract award. The contractor is responsible for all shipping, transport, and on-site setup at AFIT. All delivery vehicles larger than a large pickup truck must undergo security screening at the Wright-Patterson AFB Commercial Vehicle Delivery Gate prior to base entry. Payment will be processed through Wide Area Workflow on a net-30 basis upon successful completion of all contract requirements.