Notice of Intent to Sole Source - MTS Calibrations & Maintenance

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to MTS Systems Corporation upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). CRREL owns and operates three (3) Materials Testing Systems (MTS) (a.k.a. universal testing frames) to support research.

These systems and connected MTS peripherals require yearly system maintenance and calibration of elements on the systems by MTS to ensure compliance with warranty and continued performance assurance required for CRREL materials testing. In addition to general maintenance, CRREL also requires the replacement of some existing elements on these systems due damage.

Requirement: The technical services necessary for the regular calibration of the MTS load cells, extensometers, and linear variable displacement transformers (LVDTs) as well as the procurement of new sensors to replace the old existing sensors are as follows Conduct required calibrations in accordance with MTS Standards to deliver fully calibrated systems of the following:

Soils Frame (5) Load cells (20 kip (k), 10k, 1k, 550lb, and 200lb) (1) Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) (3) Extensometers MTS 810 (3) Load cells (55k, 10k, and 1k) (1) LVDT (1) Extensometer MTS 4-Post (6) Load cells (250k, 100k, 55k, 25k, 10k, and 1k) (2) LVDT (4) Extensometers MTS Video Extensometer Advantage Video Extensometer (AVX) XT-107 XT-205 Deliver and install the required new replacement parts of the components listed below and confirm via demonstration to the COR the full working functionality of the MTS Flex Test 100 Controller. The replacement parts are as follows:

Four (4) Digital Universal Conditioner (DUC) / Valve Driver, Model 494.16, MTS Part Number: 100653657 Four (4) Eight Channel Analog Output Board;

Model 494.46, MTS Part Number: 100653662 Four (4) Eight Channel Analog Output Breakout Cables, MTS Part Number: 57333301 Conduct the following maintenance on the Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) a.k.a., MTS SilentFlo Pump MTS Model Number 515.90 in accordance with MTS standards.

Collect an oil sample from the system, evaluate the quality of the oil, and report findings to the COR Replace the filter and conduct system calibration Service the three (3) frames on the HPU including each of the Hydraulic Service Manifolds (HSM) on each frame. Calibration Certificates and Out Brief MTS Systems Corporation was identified as the only source reasonably available to meet all technical requirements of the Government because of the proprietary hardware and software systems in place.

Annual calibration is required to maintain material testing certifications (AASHTO, ASTM). FOB Destination - Services are to be performed at CRREL, 72 Lyme Rd, Hanover, NH 03755-1920. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed.

All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CST, 15 February 2024 to Tomeka.J.McNeely@usace.army.mil Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation.

A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.