Notice of Intent to Sole Source to Isotropx

The U.S. Department of Energy - Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID), on behalf of the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE-31) and the Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory (RESL), hereby gives notice of its intent to negotiate and award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price purchase order to Techcomp (USA) Inc. (doing business as Isotopx), located at 4690 Millennium Dr., Suite 300, Belcamp, MD 21017, for the acquisition of one (1) Isotopx DG60 Filament Degasser (Product Code 90009326).

The DOE Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory (RESL) has a mission-critical requirement to purchase a specialized filament degassing instrument. Specifically, the laboratory requires:

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  Equipment: One (1) Isotopx DG60 Filament Degasser.

  
  


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  Function: The DG60 must perform automated, multi-step vacuum and thermal heating routines on rhenium (Re) filaments used in thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) to prepare them for ultra-low-level plutonium isotopic measurements.

  
  


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  Deliverables: The system must include the primary degasser unit, automated temperature-ramping controller software, filament racks, on-site engineer installation and familiarization, and a minimum 24-month comprehensive manufacturer's warranty.

  
  


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  Incoterms: Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) to RESL, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, with all shipping, customs clearance, and transit insurance included.

  
  

RESL currently owns and operates an Isotopx Phoenix Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS), which is used for highly sensitive nuclear forensics and environmental monitoring. The sole-source determination is based on the following critical technical factors:

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  System Integration and Interface Compatibility: The DG60 is a proprietary peripheral designed and manufactured exclusively by Isotopx to integrate directly with the sample turret, filament geometry, and electrical interfaces of the existing Phoenix TIMS. Third-party filament degassers do not physically match or electronically interface with the proprietary Isotopx filament assemblies.

  
  


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  Isobaric Interference Mitigation: Accurate analysis of ultra-trace Plutonium-238 ($^{238}\text{Pu}$) is severely compromised by the presence of Uranium-238 ($^{238}\text{U}$) on the rhenium filaments, which acts as a major chemical/isobaric interference. The DG60 utilizes proprietary, automated, multi-step temperature ramping and hold routines in a controlled vacuum to preferentially burn off $^{238}\text{U}$ prior to introducing the plutonium sample into the mass spectrometer. This process is highly sensitive and requires the native software control loops unique to the Isotopx system.

  
  


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  Proprietary Rights: Isotopx retains sole intellectual property, manufacturing, and software rights for the DG60 and its replacement parts. No authorized third-party domestic manufacturers or small business resellers have been authorized to manufacture or distribute this equipment in the United States; sales are handled directly by the parent organization, Techcomp (USA) Inc.

  
  

While the Government intends to proceed with this sole-source acquisition, this notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all responsible sources—specifically small business concerns—who believe they can satisfy the physical, electronic, and software compatibility requirements specified above may submit a capability statement.

Capability statements must be submitted in writing via email to the Contract Specialist and must include the following information:

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   Company Information: Legal name, address, SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), CAGE code, and business size status under NAICS 334516.

   
   


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   Technical Compatibility Demonstration: Clear, detailed technical evidence proving that your proposed system can physically host and power the proprietary Isotopx Phoenix TIMS filament assemblies, execute automated thermal-vacuum ramp cycles compatible with the Phoenix operating software, and perform equivalent uranium burn-off without damaging the filaments.

   
   


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   Manufacturer Authorization: If acting as a reseller, submit written, verifiable authorization directly from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Isotopx, certifying your status as an authorized dealer with access to factory-trained service engineers and OEM replacement parts.

   
   

Responses must be sent via email to the primary point of contact listed below. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

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  Response Deadline: September 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern StandardTime (EST)

  
  


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  Primary Point of Contact / Contract Specialis: Pete Hawkes, hawkespd@id.doe.gov

  
  

Disclaimer: 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 in the future.