Sole Source Notice of Intent, Static Resistance Function Development for Full-Scale Building Systems

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) is conducting research and development (R&D) to evaluate existing full-scale door and window systems under static and dynamic loading to investigate the capacities of systems of interest.

The ERDC requires the University of Missouri System’s one-of-a-kind full-scale vacuum chamber and full-scale static water chamber, and members of the University of Missouri System faculty and staff for the Research and Development effort to be completed. The University of Missouri System’s unique full-scale vacuum chamber and full-scale static water chamber are required to evaluate various systems. The data gathered from these experiments will be used to develop resistance functions for each test article.

The unique services and chambers can only be provided by the University of Missouri Systems (CAGE: 9C156). The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is prescribed by FAR 13.106-1(b). The University of Missouri System is the only entity capable of meeting the government’s unique requirement including the use of their one-of-a-kind full-scale vacuum chamber and full-scale static water chamber and members of the University of Missouri System's faculty and staff for conducting the subject research.

The full-scale vacuum is capable of testing building systems that are up to 10-ft-wide by 12-ft-tall under quasi-static pressure. The opening of the vacuum chamber can be enclosed to accommodate any specimen dimensions within the 10 ft × 12 ft opening. The chamber also allows for a uniquely capable loading control. The full-scale water chamber provides better control over the softening of the specimens after specimen failure due to the incompressible nature of water, as opposed to air.

The water chamber accommodates different specimen sizes. Thus, the University of Missouri System is the only entity with the capability of testing building systems of these sizes under the unique and required loading regimes to generate the resistance functions and to further ERDC’s understanding of their quasi-static behavior for proper structural evaluation. No other entity or facility will meet the government’s unique need.

Therefore, the Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed price contract, to the University of Missouri System (Cage Code: 9C156) in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(2)(i). The University of Missouri System is considered a large business concern under the applicable NAICS code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with a size standard of $19,000,000.00 dollars. This notice of intent is for information purposes only. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals. A solicitation will not be issued.

However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor’s ability to fulfill this requirement. The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each.

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

Responses to this requirement may be submitted to David Ammermann at David.G.Ammermann@usace.army.mil AND Jennifer Hoben at Jennifer.Hoben@usace.army.mil. The solicitation number shall be included in the subject line of the e-mail submission. Responses must be received no later than 1:00 PM CST 28 June 2024.