Intent to Sole Source for Critical Assist II Instrumental Maintenance And Upgrades

POINT OF CONTACT: JAMIE ROSALES-WOLD U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NOAA WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION 325 BROADWAY, SOU6 BOULDER, CO 80305 PHONE:

303-578-6951 EMAIL: JAMIE.ROSALES@NOAA.GOV

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (OAR), PHYSICAL SCIENCES LABORATORY (PSL), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO 12.102(a), WITH TELOPS INC FOR SERVICES NON-PERSONAL FOR CRITICAL ASSISTII INSTRUMENTAL MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO BE PERFORMED AT BOULDER, CO. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 811210.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT TELOPS INC IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THIS ASSIST II SPECTROMETER. THERE IS NO OTHER COMPANY AVAILABLE THAT POSSESSES THE KNOWLEDGE AND CAPABILITY TO PERFORM THE HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED REPAIRS AND UPDATES FOR THE ASSIST-II SPECTROMETER.

THE ASSIST II SPECTROMETER WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT BY LR TECH, INC, A CANADIAN-BASED COMPANY THAT WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY TELOPS INC. TELOPS OWNS THE TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OF ITS ANCILLARY SUBSYSTEM. PARTS REQUIRED FOR THE NEEDED REPAIRS AND SERVICING (SUCH AS FOR THE BLACKBODY CALIBRATION) ARE BUILT IN HOUSE BY TELOPS AND THE SPECIFIC SPECIFICATIONS ARE PROPRIETARY.

FURTHERMORE, ONLY TELOPS HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMPLEX INSTRUMENTAL SYSTEMS TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED REPAIRS AND PERFORM THE UPGRADES WITHOUT DAMAGING, INTERFERING WITH, OR DEGRADING THE DELICATE ASSIST INFRARED SPECTROMETERS. SERVICING BY ANY ENTITY LACKING THIS KNOWLEDGE WOULD LIKELY RENDER THE INSTRUMENT INOPERABLE AND VOID ANY RECOURSE WITH THE MANUFACTURE TO RECOVER THE OBSERVATIONAL CAPABILITY. TELOPS INC HAS CONFIRMED THEY ARE THE SOLE SOURCE FOR THE ASSIST II INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES. ALL MAINTENANCE MUST BE PERFORMED BY THE FACTORY.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD TO DATE OF AWARD THROUGH 140 DAYS.

THIS PRESOLICITATION 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 IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT 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 NOTICE.