How to bid on Cold Cathode Vacuum Gauge Standard for the DEPT of the Air Force

What the Air Force is buying

The Department of the Air Force is seeking to purchase new cold cathode vacuum gauges. This is a firm fixed price contract awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

The items must be commercial or commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) and meet the definitions in FAR Part 2. Reconditioned, remanufactured, or used items are not acceptable. Products must include a one-year commercial warranty, a COTS manual, a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Report, and Commercial Engineering Design Data. They must also meet the requirements of the Purchase Description (Attachment 1) to the Request for Quotation (RFQ).

Key dates and deadlines

The solicitation was published on July 14, 2026. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the Solicitation Module within the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) website by August 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET.

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the solicitation postings on sam.gov and piee.eb.mil for any updates or amendments. Offers must be valid for a period of 120 days.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for small businesses with up to 750 employees. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334513, which covers instruments and related products.

Vendors should specialize in providing new, commercial, or COTS equipment that meets specific technical requirements for vacuum gauges.

How to respond

All proposals must be submitted electronically through the Solicitation Module within the PIEE website. You must register for the Solicitation module on the PIEE website to submit a proposal. Proposals will not be accepted via email or DoD SAFE.

To access the opportunity, click “View original source” on the portal. If you land on the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though for some bids this is not required. All solicitation attachments will be posted inside the Solicitation Module. Ensure your uploaded files are timestamped by the due date and time.

Practical tips for a competitive response

Carefully review all documents, especially the Purchase Description (Attachment 1) and the instructions for electronic submission (Attachment 3). Your technical proposal must include a written response to each paragraph of the Purchase Description.

Ensure your offer includes a copy of your commercial price list, commercial warranty, and a completed Total Evaluated Price Worksheet (Attachment 5). You must also submit a COTS unit for evaluation along with your written proposal. Confirm your company's registration in SAM is active and current, and include your taxpayer identification number (TIN), CAGE Code Number, and DUNS Number in your offer.

Remember that offers must be for new units, FOB Destination, and include a delivery schedule. If awarded, you will need to use Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF) through PIEE for electronic submission of payment requests and receiving reports, so familiarize yourself with that system.