SOLE SOURCE: Snow Removal Services for the NWS WFO located in Caribou, Maine.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Kansas City intends to negotiate and award a purchase order with Base plus four Option Years, on a sole source basis, under authority of RFO FAR 6.103-1, with the Town of Houlton for Snow Removal Services for the NWS WFO located in Caribou, Maine.

Sole Source Justification: The Government intends to award a purchase order with base plus four option years to the Town of Houlton for the procurement of snow removal services due to their exclusive rights to the property in which the NWS WFO is located. The Town of Houlton owns and operates the Houlton International Airport where the FAA ASOS equipment is located.

The Town Manager and the Public Works Director, have determined that all public works tasks at the airport shall be provided only by town public works employees. No other vendors or contractors are allowed on the airport site. Failure to have snow removal performed around and leading to the ASOS would prevent NWS technicians from performing required preventive and corrective maintenance during the snow season.

A lack of observations would severely hinder, if not hinder completely, the government's ability to provide accurate terminal forecasts for safety of flight at the airport during adverse weather conditions. This pre-solicitation notice is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.

However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government’s requirements may submit substantiating documentation or a request for additional information in writing to the (Contract Specialist) within 15 days after publication of this presolicitation notice. Such requests and documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis.

A determination by the government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this pre-solicitation notice.