Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 6.302-1, the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Technology, Systems & Program Integration Directorate (TSPID) at the Natick Soldier Research, Development, & Engineering Center, intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Beyond Clothing LLC, a small business located in Seattle, WA 98108-3437. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. Nature and description of services or supplies required to meet agency needs: The Government requires 30 Enhanced Advantage BDU Pants and BDU Blouses to support operational testing of the Advanced Personal Protection System (APPS). The APPS is a DHS sponsored program to develop a system of personal protection that will improve first responder user survivability and operational effectiveness. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only responsible source available to provide these services or supplies: These items are made by Beyond Clothing only. Beyond Clothing participated in the development of these SOF garments and has the exclusive commercial sales rights to them. Consequently, they are the only commercial source for these items. In addition, Beyond Clothing has the ability to rapidly modify the design of these garments. Our intention is to conduct two operational evaluations and then using the operational feedback, make adjustments to these garments and procure another round of test articles for evaluation. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted: The specific products being procured were competitively selected by an IPT comprised of SWAT users, based on an evaluation of multiple product performance characteristics and user priorities. Product compatibility and interoperability were major considerations in the product evaluations. The products will be tested in operational evaluations to validate the operational suitability and effectiveness of the APPS for SWAT law enforcement applications. Sole sourcing is required to ensure that the items selected by the IPT are the same items that are tested. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: These products are being procured as limited quantities of test articles for the planned APPS SWAT operational evaluations. Beyond has the capability to rapidly modify the design of these garments. Our intention is to procure a small quantity (QTY-30) of product to conduct initial operational evaluations and then using the operational feedback from those evaluations, to make adjustments to these garments to improve their operational suitability and effectiveness. We will then procure another quantity (QTY~60) of improved test articles for further evaluation. These items will be procured later as pricing for the modified garments becomes available. Should these items be determined to be operationally suitable and effective, they will be placed on the APPS SWAT authorized procurement list. Any future procurement from the APPS SWAT authorized procurement list will be made by state and local agencies under their respective local procurement regulations. 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: Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. 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 Noon (EST) 10 December 2009. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Building 1, Kansas Street Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist (508) 233-5704