Notice of Intent to Sole Source -Continental 419F transmitters parts

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT This notice is issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) section 5.201 to notify the public of a proposed contract action. The North American Identification Classification System (NAICS) code is 334419 Other Electronic Component Manufacturing. The SBA size standard is 500 employees.

The proposed contract action is for a Water Cooled Vacuum Variable Capacitor 100-1600pf 40KV and four (4) aWater Cooled Vacuum Variable Capacitor – 100-1600pf 60KV that were originally manufactured by Continental Electronics for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The U.S Agency of Global Marketing (USAGM) intends to contract by means of other that full and open competition and enter into a sole source contract with Comet Technologies USA.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.253(c)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled “3304(a)(1) sole source specifications, which reads in part, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.” Comet Technologies USA is the only known source able to provide these parts to work properly with the existing international radio transmitting systems.

USAGM’s Kuwait Transmitting Station operates six Continental 419F transmitters, these transmitters have broadcasted for well over 20 years and require parts replacement frequent due to the age and the wear, tear on the equipment. The Transmitters are a part of the transmitting towers that were purchased through Continental Electronics to broadcast the USAGMs news, radio communications around the world. They are broadcasting antennas. Within the Transmission towers, they have parts that have to be replaced.

The parts are mission critical and purchased throughout the year to ensure the station has an adequate amount of reserve components in case of transmitters failure at the Kuwait Transmitting Station. These parts are critical components and if they fail the transmitter will not be able to broadcast the USAGM programs throughout the countries we support. See Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 for fit and form specifications. Parts shall be delivered to:JCM Logistics 14913 Bogle Drive Chantilly, VA 20151 The Period of Performance is:

Base Period: 02/1/2024- 09/30/2024. The purchase order alue is estimated at $134,000.00.

Because of the mission criticality and urgency of this requirement, only one source will be solicited.The only acceptable vendor for this service is:COMET Technologies USA Inc.2360 Bering Drive, San Jose, CA 95131, USA Tel. +1 408 325-8770, Fax +1 408 325-8773 info@cometusa.com, www.cometusa.com This notice of intent in not a request for capability statements or competitive proposals; however all capability statements received within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the agency.

A determination by the Government not to compete this procurement based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. For questions concerning this notice, please contact Natalie Y. Ellis; email: nellis@usagm.gov or David Wallace; email: dwallace@usagm.gov