Intent to Sole Source - Athens GA, Conviron Environmental Chamber Repairs

The USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS), intends to issue a firm fixed price, sole source award for maintenance services performed at the Forestry Sciences Lab in Athens, GA. 30602 on four, Conviron environmental chambers, manufactured in 2000 . The R22 refrigerant is the only type of refrigerant that can be used in all of the units. The refrigerant has not been manufactured in over 18 months while even though it’s still legal purchase the R22 has not been readily available for purchase. The company Batchelor and Kimball (“B&K”) has an existing sufficient quantity of R22 to accomplish necessary repairs. Inquiries into the capabilities of several area HVAC companies have not revealed the ability for support from other than B&K. Additionally, the small scope of this work does not make it cost efficient for other U.S based companies outside of the commuting area to execute services even if sufficient quantities of R22 were available from far-outlying areas.