DeHavilland Twin Otter OEM Door Handles

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City office intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Skylock Industries for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) DeHavilland Twin Otter door handles for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration's Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) at MacDill AFB, FL. The AOC requires the following OEM DeHavilland Twin Otter door handles: Eight (8) cockpit door handles P/N 20119-5-84F (DSC177-5-84F) Four (4) airstair door handles P/N20119-5-116F (DSC177-2-116) Four (4) emergency exit door handles P/N 20119-5-100F (DSC177-5-100F) Four (4) baggage door handles P/N 20119-5-68 (DSC177-5-68) A Sources Sought Notice was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website on July 24, 2014 and closed on August 4, 2014. No responses were received. Skylock Industries is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the DeHavilland Twin Otter aircraft door handles. As the OEM, Skylock is the only contractor able to supply the OEM parts. While other contractors may attempt to duplicate the same locks utilizing known specifications, only Skylock Industries can certify the parts as the OEM. As an agency, it is imperative that the AOC maintain t national assets to the highest standards possible. This involves ensuring that replacement parts for worn out items are manufactured to the highest level which is met with the OEM. Other manufacturers were considered, however, the quote showed the limitation of not being the Original Equipment Manufacturer as the quoted parts were based on the OEM specifications for these parts. These aftermarket handles are based on source data from stock materials and are self-certified by the distributor but not by the Original Equipment Manufacturers. The AOC have purchased these aftermarket handles in the past (one at a time as a stop-gap measure to replace aging original locks that no longer work). These aftermarket locks have a higher incidences of failure, do not come keyed alike (causing aircrews to carry and maintain multiple sets of keys), and are not made to the same standard or craftsmanship as the OEM Skylock Inc. locks. In person interviews with the NOAA AOC maintainers have shown the aftermarket locks do not fit as well as the OEM locks and do not have the same professional appearance as the OEM locks. These maintainers, at times, must send the aircraft on deployment without a full set of keys due to loss and confusion on which keys fit which aircraft as the aftermarket locks are not keyed alike and some are now in disrepair and unusable. This can result in leaving the aircraft unlocked at times. In order to maintain the necessary security to our deployed aircraft, a full set of high quality working locks with one master key is necessary. Theft of equipment, theft of the aircraft, and vandalism of these government assets injures both NOAA and the nation.