Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Warfighter Protection and Aerial Delivery Directorate (WARPAD), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Dadco, Inc. Cincinnati, OH 45249-1099 THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: AOR requests employment of less expensive, more portable and optional recovery water and fuel systems which include a collapsible hard shell box which decreases required storage space. The containers must have exterior dimensions of 78" length, 48" width, and 34" height with interior dimensions of 74.5" length, 44.8" width, and 27" of usable height. The containers must have forklift tine holes on all four sides of the box. The container must be capable of being slung beneath a helicopter in flight without breaking. Collapsed height of the container shall be no higher than 13". Container load capacity shall be no less than 1500 lbs. The containers must be stack-able in both the collapsed and assembled configurations. Static stacking of assembled containers at maximum capacity shall be four high. The container shall weigh no more than 250 pounds. One short side of the rectangular container shall contain a hinged door allowing for access to container contents without dropping the entire short side of the container. 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): The equipment being procured will be used for field testing in theater. These items represent the 85%+ solution with input from the field we may get the 100% solution faster by designing to the units needs rather than fielding an untested system. The Army units requesting the capability are currently deployed to Afghanistan and have asked that the items be delivered by 25 SEP 2011 or as near this date as possible 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Internet searches were conducted beginning in the Summer of 2010 through present in an attempt to discover sources capable of producing the required equipment in the desired time frame. Multiple sources were contacted for the potential production of each item. The sources were contacted via telephone and/or e-mail. We ascertained the willingness of the source to alter their current commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) item to meet the field's specific requirements. Some potential sources were non-responsive while others were not willing to modify their COTS item. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: This need represents the the demand of portability from personnel supporting Operation Enduring Freedom located at a significantly growing number of austere, isolated Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). These FOBs have significant challenges to resupply bulk fuel and water as well as severally restricted vehicle (if any) access. 5. 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: At this time, there is no statement of the actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition. The full development of requirements has not been accomplished and will not be accomplished until the using units proved feedback on recommended changes to any/all of the system components. 6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to:
[email protected] no later than 11:00 AM (EST) on 16 September 2011. Contracting Office Address: Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Grounds CCAP-SCN, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Kendall Leibman, Contract Specialist (508) 233-6124
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