Under the authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1), in conjunction FAR 13, the United States Army Research, Development & Engineering Command (RDECOM) Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, MA 01760, on behalf of the WARSTAR Directorate, intends to negotiate and award a contract to Clariant Corp located at 85 Holden Industrial Park, Massachusetts, MA 01520. To provide the following materials: 1900 lbs of blue color concentrate #AB53620328. The intent is to award 1 contract to procure the above mentioned materials on the basis of Other than Full and Open Competition. NATURE AND DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY NEEDS: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), Department of the Treasury has given Fiber Project personnel authority to research, develop, and produce unique materials. Under requirements set forth by the BEP, no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Color concentrates are formulated with proprietary combinations of materials that are known only to vendor. DEMONSTRATION THAT CONTRACTOR IS THE ONLY SOURCE AVAILABLE: Supplies are available only from the contractor for the continued fiber production of the unique materials required by the BEP, when it is likely that an award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Fiber Projects requirements to the BEP. The contractor has maintained a good working relationship with the government and has delivered previous shipments of color concentrates (under contract #'s 09-P-0747, 08-P-0l 71, 06-P-0447,05-P-0544). Materials that are used are proprietary to the vendor - government does not have access to the formula due to proprietary information. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH THAT WAS CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED: Under the agreement with the BEP, Fiber Project personnel are constantly searching out new technologies, products and services to enhance the research, development, and production of our materials. A limited market survey/search was conducted and the results were that there are several other companies that could supply the government with similar materials (i.e., Penn Color, Hudson Color, Spartech Polycom, AmeriChem, and Badger Color) that could meet our unique material/equipment requirements. By dealing with another company, they would have to have time to analyze the material and be able to reproduce this specific color combination, and the added costs of time and trials are not acceptable. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: None A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS IF ANY THAT AN INTERESTED PARTY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED: Information received will only be considered for future acquisitions. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this acquisition to the US Army RDECOM Acquisition Center, Natick Contracting Division, via email to:
[email protected]. All responses must be received prior to the expiration of this synopsis on 16 April 2010 at 12:00 pm EST. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Acquisition Center - Natick, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Michael Griffin, 508-233-5969