Windscreen Complete Assemblies for the National Logistics Support Center in Grandview, MO

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, on a sole source basis, under authority of RFO FAR 6.103-1, with ETI Acquisitions LLC in Fort Collins, CO for Windscreen Complete Assemblies (P/N 6282890191-1) to be delivered to the National Logistics Support Center in Grandview, MO. The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s only one source is capable rationale.

The manufacturer, ETI Acquisitions LLC, of Fort Collins, CO, is the single source that is capable of delivering a wind shield assembly for the NWS ASOS Program. All spare parts for the ASOS Rain Gauge system are required to be identical to the item which was provided with the original equipment. The parts cannot be substituted with a like part. Any logistical spares must be form, fit and functionally identical to the original equipment item.

The original equipment was subjected to a stringent qualification test regime which included operational test, field testing and environmental qualification testing. Acceptance of any item other than the original equipment would require that testing be completely re-accomplished. To retest other than the original equipment would require additional costs and time which would not be beneficial to the government.

If additional time is required, the fielded ASOS systems may not be available during the testing period of a new product. Failure of the ASOS is not acceptable due to the nature of the system. ETI Instrument Systems, Inc. (ETI) considers this item as proprietary and is the only known source of supply. 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 Abigail Green within 15 days after publication of this pre-solicitation 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.