Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Instron 5980 Fixtures and Accessories

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) National Forest Systems Branch (NFSB) intends to issue a sole source award to Instron, a division of Illinois Tool Works (CAGE Code: 80160) to procure new equipment fixtures and accessories that must be fully compatible with the USFS currently owned Instron 5980 universal testing machine and must not violate any Instron manufacturer warranty. Instron is the sole manufacturer and distributor of all Instron products.

All products, software, software upgrades, associated accessories, parts, engineering support, and training materials are exclusively designed, developed, and manufactured by Instron. Instron retains the rights to all drawings, parts, components, and training materials it has designed and developed for use in maintaining and servicing Instron testing systems. There are no approved third-party resellers.

The items manufactured solely by Instron, a division of Illinois Tool Works are the only items that meet the government’s requirement and are the only items that are compatible with the USFS’s existing Instron 5980 universal testing machine. Therefore, it is imperative that this purchase be made on a sole source basis from Instron, a division of Illinois Tool Works.

Therefore, the Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed price contract to Instron, a division of Illinois Tool Works in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). Illinois Tool Works (Instron) is a large business concern under the applicable NAICS code 334519, Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing, with a size standard of 600 employees. This notice of intent is for information purposes only. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals. A solicitation will not be issued.

However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor’s ability to fulfill this requirement. The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each.

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses to this requirement may be submitted to Bradley Martin at Bradley.Martin2@usda.gov no later than 10:30AM EST 04 September 2025.