B--Provide a program for estimating the sediment volume capable of trapping gas hydrates in permafrost and marine geological settings.

The United States Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS) Procurement Operations Branch is the Contracting Office for this procurement. MMS intends to award a sole source Purchase Order to Colorado School of Mines, Center for Research on Hydrates & Other Solid Hydrocarbon & Aqueous Fluids, Golden, Colorado, in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency's requirements. (MMS) Procurement Operations Branch anticipates awarding a Purchase Order for a one-year study to provide a tool for estimating the sediment volume capable of trapping gas hydrates in permafrost & marine geological settings around the world utilizing gas hydrate phase equilibria. The program should perform a variety of gas hydrate phase equilibrium calculations for numerous pure and multicomponent systems by importing variable values from a database or spreadsheet format. The total value of this procurement is estimated to be approximately $60,000. Anticipated award date is no later than 25 September 2005. This is NOT a request for competitive quotes. The intent of this Special Notice is for "informational purposes" only. However, any and all information received by the point of contact (POC) listed below, by close of business 14 September 2005, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. POC: Ms. Paula Barksdale, MMS Procurement Operations Branch, 381 Elden Street, MS-2100, Herndon VA 20170. Questions must be emailed to Paula Barksdale - email address: [email protected] or Fax to: 703-787-1041. PHONE CALLS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.