Sole Source 2702 2D Crystal Manipulation System

SOLE SOURCE CERTIFICATE AND POSTING NOTICE
(Greater than $150,000)
A sole source procurement is when you make a request to purchase product(s) and/or service(s)
without competition when competition is otherwise required. This means that product/service is
unique and that the supplier is the only supplier that can provide the product or service. In
accordance with the authority granted under applicable Florida law and UCF Regulation 7.130, the
following documentation is submitted in support of this request.
This form and related documentation shall be submitted through Workday Help using case type Waivers and
Sole Source. Please do not attach to a requisition or send via email for review and approval.
WD case subject title should have common structure for easy tracking, to include:
Exemption type (Sole Source)
Supplier name
Purchase amount
The completed sole source must be approved in the following order. Please be sure to obtain
all required signatures before submitting the form to Procurement Services.
* PI/Researcher/Director/Chair
* President/Vice President/Dean
* Procurement Specialist
* Procurement Services Manager or Associate Director
* Assistant Vice President for Tax, Payables & Procurement, who will review and
provide a recommendation to approve or disapprove the sole source to:
* Chief Financial Officer, who will either directly approve or disapprove the sole source, or
forward it to the Provost and Executive Vice President for goods/services related to
academia for input prior to making the final decision.
Once the completed sole source is received, Procurement Services in collaboration with kNEXT
reviews the documentation provided and determines whether the sole source is valid or if there are
additional suppliers that may be able to provide the requested product or service. The sole source
review and approval process varies based on the nature of the product/service being requested and
the information provided in the requestor's justification, among other factors, so please keep this in
mind when submitting the form.
Contingent upon the approval of all the officers/individuals listed, the sole source shall be
posted on the UCF Procurement Services website for seventy-two (72) hours. Upon expiration of
said posting period, Procurement Services will process a purchase order upon receipt of the
requisition.
The usual bidding process shall be conducted if sole source approval is not granted.
Revised 12/7/23

PARTI: DEPARTMENT AND SUPPLIER INFORMATION
Department Name: Contact & Phone:
*$161,400.00 per
Product/Service Cost:
quote
__ One Time Purchase __Term Contract: __________
__ Multiple Purchases __ Duration: ______________
Company Name: Email:
Contact Person: Title:
Product and/or Service:
PARTII: SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION (see pages 4-5)
Only justifications submitted on this form and in the below format will be reviewed for approval.
All the listed points MUST be fully answered on the following pages and any additional attached
pages as needed. Failure to submit justification as outlined in the format below will result in the
form being returned without review.
PARTIII:SOLESOURCECERTIFICATIONS
A. In my professional opinion, this is the only product or service that can reasonably meet my
requirement(s)/specification(s), and this is the only supplier who can provide the product or
service. I further certify that the information contained herein is true and correct to the best of
my knowledge and belief and would withstand any audit or supplier protest.
B. I, the undersigned, certify that I and/or the user do not have a financial interest in the above
named supplier or contractor, and that I am unaware of any conflict of interest related to this
purchase.
Signature PrintedNameand Title(PI/Researcher/Director/Chair) Date
Signature PrintedName and Title(President/Vice President/Dean) Date
(Delegationsnotallowed;emailsfromabsentapproversareacceptable)
I, the undersigned, hereby concur with theabove justification andsupport a sole source approval for
the above product(s) and/or service(s). Approvals may be documented and supported via email.
Signature PrintedNameandTitle(Procurement Specialist) Date
Thursday, July 9, 2026 11:16 AM
via e-mail
Signature Printed Name and Title Date
(Procurement Services Manager or Associate Director)
via e-mail Thursday, July 9, 2026 12:10 PM
Signature PrintedNameand Title Date
(Asst. Vice Presidentfor Tax, Payables & Procurement)
Revised12/7/23

via e-mail Monday, July 20, 2026 7:16 PM
Signature PrintedName and Title (ChiefFinancial Officer) Date
POSTING NOTICE
07/23/2026 12:00 PM 07/28/2026 12:00 PM 2702 Stefanie DelGiudice
Date/TimePosted PostingEndDate UCF Control No. ProcurementSpecialist
Revised 12/7/23

Stefanie DelGiudice
From: Albert Francis
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2026 7:16 PM
To: Joel Levenson; Brian Sargent
Cc: Stefanie DelGiudice; Nellie Nido
Subject: Re: C0176258 Sole Source Graphene Industries $161,400.00
Sorry for the delay, team. I agree with this decision as well!
Thanks,
Bert
Bert Francis, CPA
Interim Vice President / Chief Financial Officer / University Treasurer
Administration and Finance
University of Central Florida
4635 Andromeda Loop N
MH384
Orlando, FL 32816
Tel: (407) 882-1075
Email: Albert.Francis@UCF.Edu
From: Joel Levenson <Joel.Levenson@ucf.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2026 9:53 AM
To: Brian Sargent <Brian.Sargent@ucf.edu>; Albert Francis <Bert.Francis.III@ucf.edu>
Cc: Stefanie DelGiudice <Stefanie.DelGiudice@ucf.edu>; Nellie Nido <nellie.nido@ucf.edu>
Subject: RE: C0176258 Sole Source Graphene Industries $161,400.00
Good morning,
I know Bert is returning from recent leave. Give him some time to catch up on his emails and I'm sure we'll be ok here.
From: Brian Sargent <Brian.Sargent@ucf.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2026 9:07 AM
1

To: Joel Levenson <Joel.Levenson@ucf.edu>; Albert Francis <Bert.Francis.III@ucf.edu>
Cc: Stefanie DelGiudice <Stefanie.DelGiudice@ucf.edu>; Nellie Nido <nellie.nido@ucf.edu>
Subject: RE: C0176258 Sole Source Graphene Industries $161,400.00
Good afternoon,
TGIF! Just following up on this.
Regards,
Brian
From: Joel Levenson <Joel.Levenson@ucf.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 12:10 PM
To: Albert Francis <Bert.Francis.III@ucf.edu>
Cc: Stefanie DelGiudice <Stefanie.DelGiudice@ucf.edu>; Nellie Nido <nellie.nido@ucf.edu>; Brian Sargent <Brian.Sargent@ucf.edu>
Subject: RE: C0176258 Sole Source Graphene Industries $161,400.00
Good afternoon Bert,
I also approve of this sole source award. Research into this supplier shows that the product meets the needs of the department's research vs.
other products available. Additionally, other agencies have awarded sole source awards for this product.
If you agree, please reply all to this email and indicate as such. If you have additional questions, let me know.
From: Brian Sargent <Brian.Sargent@ucf.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 11:16 AM
To: Joel Levenson <Joel.Levenson@ucf.edu>
Cc: Stefanie DelGiudice <Stefanie.DelGiudice@ucf.edu>; Nellie Nido <nellie.nido@ucf.edu>
Subject: FW: C0176258 Sole Source Graphene Industries $161,400.00
Importance: High
Hi Joel,
I support this sole source as to Graphene Industries for a microscope based instrument. Physics researched other potential products but they
could not meet their mandatory requirements. Additionally, a search of GovSpend found an approved sole source issued by the Naval Research
Laboratory .
2

Please approve/disapprove and let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Brian
From: Stefanie DelGiudice <Stefanie.DelGiudice@ucf.edu>
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2026 12:41 PM
To: Brian Sargent <Brian.Sargent@ucf.edu>
Subject: C0176258 Sole Source Graphene Industries $161,400.00
Importance: High
Sole Source Approval Request
Supplier: Graphene Industries
Amount: $161,400
I recommend approval. The request meets the criteria for a non-competitive procurement, as competition is not practicable and only one supplier can satisfy
the requirement.
Basis for Determination
The sole source is justified based on:
No Practicable Competition: Market research supports that no alternative supplier provides the full combination of required capabilities.
Unique Integrated Functionality: Only Graphene Industries offers a system combining deterministic transfer, precision alignment, integrated heating, and
optical/PL workflow compatibility in a single platform.
Non-Equivalent Alternatives: Evaluated vendors (HQ Graphene, Signatone) do not meet mandatory technical and workflow requirements.
Established Research Continuity: Substitution would require redevelopment, retraining, and revalidation, introducing material risk to performance and
timelines.
Exclusive Source: No distributors or resellers identified; procurement is direct from the manufacturer.
External Validation
Public-sector precedents further support this determination:
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory issued a federal sole source award to Graphene Industries for a comparable system.
International research procurements have similarly issued exemptions citing the system's unique technical integration.
These precedents reinforce that other agencies have validated both supplier exclusivity and lack of functional competition.
Price Reasonableness
The total cost of $161,400 is determined fair and reasonable based on the specialized nature of the system, inclusion of integrated components, installation,
training, and warranty, and absence of comparable alternatives.
3

Compliance Notes
Non-Compliant Term: The quoted 1.5% monthly late payment interest exceeds UCF limits and must be revised or removed prior to award.
No ongoing contractual obligations or multi-year commitments are created.
Documentation satisfies audit and public records requirements.
Conclusion
I believe that the request is fully compliant, adequately justified, and supported by market validation and external public-sector precedent.
Approval is recommended.
Best Regards,
Stefanie
Stefanie Jollie DelGiudice
Legal Studies, BA - 2000
Procurement and Contract Specialist
kNEXT Procurement Team
Knights Experience Team (kNEXT)
University of Central Florida
Division of Administration and Finance
3544 Perseus Loop #160975
Building 16F
Orlando, FL 32816-0975
407-882-2104
Stefanie.DelGiudice@ucf.edu
ucf.edu l kNEXT.ucf.edu l Workday Help
Please note: Florida has a very broad open records law (F.S. 119). Emails may be subject to public disclosure.
Procurement Assignments:
Advertising, Broadcasting, Promotional Items, Printing, Mail/Mail Services, Books, Educational Supplies, Musical Instruments, Office
Supplies/Services, Recreation Equipment, Perquisites/Uniforms, Memberships, Food and Beverage Supplies/Services, Facilities
Materials/Supplies, Travel
4

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION
Please answer the ques(cid:415)ons below and a(cid:425)ach addi(cid:415)onal documenta(cid:415)on if needed.
1) Describe the product(s) and/or service(s) and an(cid:415)cipated use thereof in layman's language.
We request the purchase of a 2D-material transfer stage/system from Graphene Industries. This instrument
is a microscope-based precision tool used to pick up, align, and place atomically thin materials, such as
graphene and other 2D crystals, onto substrates or other materials.
The system will be used for academic research to fabricate layered 2D-material samples and devices. It allows
trained users to inspect small flakes under a microscope, align them at controlled angles, and stack them
with high precision. These samples will support op(cid:415)cal, electronic, and quantum-material experiments in
our laboratory.
2) Required Specifica(cid:415)on
a) Describe the required specifica(cid:415)ons or requirements and why are they essen(cid:415)al to the
accomplishment of your work
The transfer system must provide precise microscope-based posi(cid:415)oning and angular alignment for
determinis(cid:415)c assembly of atomically thin 2D materials. It must allow controlled pickup and placement of
flakes with fine mo(cid:415)on in x, y, and z direc(cid:415)ons, rota(cid:415)onal/angular control, stable hea(cid:415)ng of the transfer
substrate, and compa(cid:415)bility with high-quality op(cid:415)cal microscopy.
These specifica(cid:415)ons are essen(cid:415)al because our research requires fabrica(cid:415)on of layered 2D-material
samples where the rela(cid:415)ve posi(cid:415)on and angle between flakes strongly affect the final op(cid:415)cal and
electronic proper(cid:415)es. The system must also be compact and compa(cid:415)ble with our microscope-based
workflow, including op(cid:415)cal inspec(cid:415)on and photoluminescence-assisted iden(cid:415)fica(cid:415)on of suitable flakes.
Without these capabili(cid:415)es, we could not reliably produce the high-quality heterostructures needed for
our op(cid:415)cal, electronic, and quantum-material experiments.
b) Provide the names of other suppliers, products and/or services that you have inves(cid:415)gated and explain
why they do not meet the required specifica(cid:415)ons or requirements. It may be helpful to present your
informa(cid:415)on in a table like the one below.
Feature / Capability Graphene Industries HQ Graphene Signatone
Deterministic dry transfer of 2D materials Y Y N
Fine x-y-z positioning Y Y Y
Angular / rotational alignment Y Y N
Compact microscope compatibility Y N N
Optical / PL-assisted flake identification Y N N
Integrated heated transfer stage Y Y N
Existing group experience / proven workflow Y N N
Minimal training and redevelopment risk Y N N

3) State in detail why only this and no other product(s)/service(s) will sa(cid:415)sfy the department's requirements.
Descrip(cid:415)on may include unique features, compa(cid:415)bility, specifica(cid:415)ons, availability, delivery (cid:415)me frame etc.
(For example, please list the features or special condi(cid:415)ons that are unique and only available from one
supplier. Note: Price is not a valid reason.
The Graphene Industries transfer stage is required because it is the only system that sa(cid:415)sfies the full
combina(cid:415)on of technical and workflow requirements needed for our 2D-material fabrica(cid:415)on program. Our
work requires determinis(cid:415)c dry transfer of atomically thin materials, precise x-y-z posi(cid:415)oning, controlled
angular/rota(cid:415)onal alignment, substrate hea(cid:415)ng, and compa(cid:415)bility with high-quality op(cid:415)cal microscopy and
photoluminescence-assisted flake iden(cid:415)fica(cid:415)on.
The key requirement is not only the individual mechanical specifica(cid:415)ons, but the integra(cid:415)on of these
capabili(cid:415)es into a compact microscope-based transfer pla(cid:414)orm that is compa(cid:415)ble with our established
fabrica(cid:415)on workflow. Our former research group used the same Graphene Industries pla(cid:414)orm, so our team
already has direct experience with its opera(cid:415)on, alignment procedure, sample handling, and transfer
workflow. This prior validated experience is important because 2D-material heterostructure fabrica(cid:415)on is
highly sensi(cid:415)ve to mechanical stability, microscope access, hea(cid:415)ng geometry, angular alignment, and user
workflow. Using a different system would require redevelopment of the procedure, retraining of personnel,
and addi(cid:415)onal compa(cid:415)bility tes(cid:415)ng, which would increase the risk of failed transfers and delays in star(cid:415)ng
our research program.
Alterna(cid:415)ve systems were considered. HQ Graphene offers relevant 2D transfer systems, but it does not meet
our full requirement for compa(cid:415)bility with the already established microscope/PL-assisted workflow and
previously validated group procedure. Signatone systems provide precision micromanipula(cid:415)on and probing
capabili(cid:415)es, but they are not dedicated 2D-material dry-transfer systems op(cid:415)mized for angular assembly,
heated pickup/release, and PL-compa(cid:415)ble flake iden(cid:415)fica(cid:415)on.
Therefore, only the Graphene Industries transfer stage sa(cid:415)sfies the department's requirements for precise
angular alignment, compact microscope compa(cid:415)bility, op(cid:415)cal/PL-assisted transfer opera(cid:415)on, integrated
hea(cid:415)ng, determinis(cid:415)c dry transfer, and con(cid:415)nuity with a proven workflow already used by our group. This
combina(cid:415)on of features and validated compa(cid:415)bility is essen(cid:415)al for reproducible fabrica(cid:415)on of high-quality
2D-material heterostructures for our op(cid:415)cal, electronic, and quantum-material experiments.
4) Are there resellers or distributors? If yes, please list names and contact informa(cid:415)on
At this (cid:415)me, we are not aware of any resellers or distributors for the specific Graphene Industries 2D-material
transfer stage required for this purchase. The system appears to be a specialized research instrument
supplied directly by Graphene Industries.
Supplier:
Graphene Industries
Contact informa(cid:415)on:
Graphene Industries
Website: h(cid:425)ps://grapheneindustries.com
Contact: Use the company's direct contact form or quota(cid:415)on contact listed on their website.
No alternate reseller or distributor has been iden(cid:415)fied for this specific transfer-stage system.
5) Future Obliga(cid:415)on to UCF
a) Will this purchase obligate UCF to this vendor for future purchases such as maintenance, licensing, or
con(cid:415)nuing need?
___ Yes XXX No
b) If yes, please provide details regarding future obliga(cid:415)ons and/or needs to include number of years and
total spending amount of obliga(cid:415)ons:
N/A

6) What efforts have been made to obtain the best pricing available? Please provide an explana(cid:415)on to
support the belief that the price is fair and reasonable.
The requested system is a specialized research instrument configured for determinis(cid:415)c 2D-material transfer
and van der Waals heterostructure fabrica(cid:415)on. The quoted price includes the full transfer pla(cid:414)orm,
motorized XYZ membrane/slide micromanipulator, heated substrate chuck with temperature controller,
motorized sample scanning stage with rota(cid:415)on and vacuum chuck, microscope, camera/so(cid:332)ware
components, op(cid:415)cal filters, DIC/polariza(cid:415)on imaging, 100x darkfield objec(cid:415)ve, delivery, installa(cid:415)on, user
training, and a 12-month warranty.
Alterna(cid:415)ve systems and suppliers were considered, including HQ Graphene and Signatone-type systems.
However, these alterna(cid:415)ves do not sa(cid:415)sfy the full combina(cid:415)on of required specifica(cid:415)ons, including compact
microscope-based opera(cid:415)on, angular alignment, PL/op(cid:415)cal workflow compa(cid:415)bility, heated determinis(cid:415)c
transfer, and compa(cid:415)bility with our already validated group workflow. Because the Graphene Industries
system uniquely meets the required technical and workflow needs, pricing was evaluated based on the scope
and completeness of the quoted configura(cid:415)on rather than price alone. The quoted total is $161,400, with a
delivery (cid:415)me of 12-16 weeks from acceptance of the purchase order. Based on the specialized nature of the
equipment and the included installa(cid:415)on, training, warranty, and integrated components, the price is
considered fair and reasonable.