Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs)

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 327215 (Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

The Government requires the procurement of four different types of Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs), and intends to negotiate a sole-source award for this requirement with Light Machinery, Inc., 80 Colonnade Road, Nepean, ON, Canada. Relevant Light Machinery, Inc. item numbers and product descriptions for the required VIPAs are as follows:

Item 1, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-1-M

• VIPA


• 415-500 nm


• 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)


• Mounted

Item 2, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-4-M

• VIPA


• 725-875 nm


• 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)


• Mounted

Item 3, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-8-M

• VIPA


• 1500-1700 nm


• 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)


• Mounted

Item 4, qty. 2 each – Item #: OP-6721-3371-17-M

• VIPA


• 350-400 nm


• 3.371 mm thick (1.0cm-1 FSR)


• Mounted

Market research for Virtually Imaged Phase Arrays (VIPAs) yielded Light Machinery, Inc. as the sole vendor capable of offering these highly specialized devices. All other references to VIPAs found through market research were devices custom built in academic laboratories, which are not commercially available. Interchanges with Light Machinery, Inc. have yielded that they do not maintain a network of resellers for their products and are the sole-source provider. For these reasons, the Government has

determined Light Machinery, Inc. to be the sole-source provider of the required VIPAs.

This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to cody.owens.4@us.af.mil. Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.

Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 15 May 2025.

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