******PLEASE CONTACT MARY BRINKLEY/ARCS ONLY FOR ALL TECHNICAL QUESTIONS OR CONSIDERATION REGARDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. MARY BRINKLEY'S/ARCS CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN THE BODY OF THIS SOLICITATION****** NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center has a requirement to upgrade the Robotic Weld Tool (RWT), Parameter Development System (PDS), and the Pull Plug Weld Tool (PPWT) 1 and PPWT 2. NASA/MSFC intends to procure these services from PAR Systems. Competition is impractical for the following reasons: 1) PAR Systems is the original equipment manufacturer. 2) The original computer code and auxiliary hardware is unique and proprietary to the PAR Systems. 3) Procurement of these services from another source other than PAR Systems would require that the entire operating code for the four weld tools would have to be rewritten per other companies' specifications and any auxiliary hardware such as interfacing cables between the computer and hardware would have to be redesigned and reengineered. That would be cost prohibitive for the government. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to
[email protected] no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on November 19, 2013. Such capabilities/qualifications 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 compete this proposed effort 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. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html. The official point of contact is Artra C. House; however, all questions/considerations shall be submitted to Mary Brinkley/ARCS at
[email protected], or faxed to (256)961-9604.