Sole Source VectorNav Units

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 VectorNav Technologies for VN-100T-CR Wave Sensors to be delivered/performed at Stennis Space Center, MS. The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s compatibility to existing systems or equipment.

Sole Source Justification: NDBC conducted market research to find a suitable replacement that would fit the current configurations on their observation stations. Ultimately it was narrowed to three products. Tests at NDBC showed the VectorNav VN100T-CR outperformed the other two products in those tests. NDBC intends to replace all of the old 3DM-GX1 systems with the VectorNav sensor.

The VectorNav VN100T-CR is a miniature, high-performance Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS). It combines 3-axis accelerometers, gyros, and magnetometers into one device. The sensor interfaces to NDBC equipment to process the sensor measurements into wave products. In prior years, the NDBC learned that Lord Microstrain was planning to cease production of the 3DM-GX1 sensor which is the NDBC’s present operational sensor.

Since that time, the NDBC has modified its wave system interface firmware to read the VN100T-CR input data stream and performed initial lab and field tests to confirm proper operation. Now the NDBC has mounted the sensor in place of the older obsolete part inside the operational tube. These sensors being purchased will be used to modify operational tubes to use the new VN100T-CR sensor.

If the VN100T-CR product is not procured, the NDBC will reach a point where it cannot meet its requirement for wave observations due to lack of functioning sensors. Should another brand be procured, the NDBC would have to modify mounting and interface firmware, thus incurring more costs. Tests already completed for the VN100T-CR would have to be re-conducted. This includes field testing. These tests are required to confirm proper operation and quality of the measurements.

Thus, the cost to the government would greatly increase and wave observations at some stations may not be possible until the required testing could be completed. 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 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.