Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Portable CBR Test Kit

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center (ERDC), Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) intends to issue a sole source award to Kessler Soils Engineering Products (CAGE Code: 07JY2) to procure (1) Portable CBR Test Kit in the areas of Airfields and Pavement (APB) research.

APB relies on complex field-testing techniques to estimate the California bearing ratio (CBR) to design, construct, and evaluate pavement subsurface layers and is paramount for airfield pavement construction and evaluation. One of the most prevalent challenges is that traditional field-testing techniques is cumbersome and cannot be deployed in contingency environments or performed at a greater frequency to evaluate a more representative pavement area.

The primary disadvantage of the traditional field CBR machine includes the transporting, handling, and setting up, particularly at remote locations. The field-testing tool will be used for quality assessment and structural evaluation of pavement subsurface layers during construction activities for lines of transportation critical for rapid entrance of military vehicles in austere locations making portability a critical variable.

Conducting evaluation of pavement subsurface layers in austere environments as well as collect data in both field and lab settings proves to be a significant challenge unless Portable CBR Test Kit can be procured. The unique characteristics detailed are critical to the continuation of the GSL’s mission and continued research in the Airfields and Pavement Branch.

Since alternative methods of field-testing technique will not be deemed acceptable, it is determined that Kessler Soils Engineering Products is the only vendor that can provide the Portable CBR Test Kit that can meet the government’s exact specifications. Therefore, the Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed price contract to Kessler Soils Engineering Products in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i).

Kessler Soils Engineering Products is a small, women-owned business concern under the applicable NAICS code 334513 (Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying and Controlling Industrial Process Variables) with a size standard of 750 employees. 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 Tam Coronel at Tam.M.Coronel@usace.army.mil no later than 2:00PM CST Thursday, 20 March 2025.