Power, Control, and Instrumentation Cables

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with General Cable Industries of Highland Heights, Kentucky, for the acquisition of Power, Control, Instrumentation Cables to be used by the Fire Research Division at NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland. *****Sole source determination is based on an agreement NIST has with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to perform a series of experiments that involve the burning of electrical cables currently installed in the U.S. nuclear power plants (NPP). The data will be used to update the Probability Risk Assessment models that are used to determine the plant's vulnerability to cable fires affecting the safe shutdown of the reactor(s). This study requires the purchase of identical cable, manufactured by General Cable Industries, to ensure consistency and repeatability of the test parameters. The required cables were used in the previous NRC's Cable Response to Live Fire (CAROLFIRE) program completed by the Sandia National Laboratories and Phase I of the Cable Heat Release, Ignition, and Spread in Tray Installation During Fire (CHRISTIFIRE) program completed by NIST in 2010. The combination of material which make up the cables are proprietary to General Cable Industries. *****The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 332618, and the size standard is 500 Employees. ******A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. *****No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, responses received by March 21, 2010 will be considered by the Government.