Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the PM SOF intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Armor Designs Inc. 4645 35th St, Phoenix, AZ 85045 THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1) FAR Statutory Authority cited: 13.106-1(b)(1) only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. 2) Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: PM-SOF Survival, Support & Equipment Systems (PM-SOF SSES) has an urgent need to purchase 15 body armor plates exclusively for test and evaluation in support of USSOCOM body armor requirements. The proposed body armor plates are a significant reduction in weight from similar USSOCOM body armor currently used on the battlefield. These items will not be fielded for use by operators under combat conditions. The intent is to award a Firm Fixed Price type contract for $50,000.00. 3) A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): Armor Designs, Inc. has presented an unsolicited proprietary proposal and proprietary plate design for USSOCOM evaluation that may be a significant reduction in weight from similar USSOCOM body armor currently used on the battlefield. 4) A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Market research has been conducted in Oct 2010 at AUSA and Jan 2011 at The Shot Show on numerous companies and no similar items were available. The purchase is for a small quantity of plates, solely for research and development testing and evaluation. 5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: Body armor is a special purpose Life Support Clothing and Equipment (LSC&E) item that has saved the lives of numerous USSOCOM operators fighting in the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Any effort to enhance the survivability by decreasing the current weight and providing the operator better mobility and agility should be considered a top priority. The proposed material solution may meet these objectives. 6) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: Not feasible at our level. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to:
[email protected] no later than 8:00 a.m. on February 16, 2011. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Nate Jordan, Contract Specialist
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