NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Hydro-Entanglement Drum for a Fleissner Hydroentanglement Line

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, WBSC, Stoneville, Mississippi, intends to award a sole source procurement to Fi-Tech Inc., 501 Research Road, Richmond. VA 23236 for a Hydro-entanglement Drum for a Fleissner Hydroentanglement line to produce specific nonwovens for specific applications to include: 1) 1- Complete Patterning HE Drum - FL 118 TEP ww 1000 mm, 24 mesh The Fleissner hydroentanglement line is a specialized textile line. Fleissner sold the line to USDA, ARS, Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit in 2007/2008. Since then, Trutzschler Nonwovens has purchased Fleissner. Fi-Tech, Inc., continues to be the US representative and is the main contact for the equipment and line. The new drums will be manufactured to be installed on the Fleissner Aquajet Machine N1056 used by the Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit at the SRRC which was purchased and installed in 2007. This vendor is the only company that has the specifications and ability to do this. The evacuated drums used in fabric formation and to produce specific patterns for specialty uses are custom made for this equipment by the manufacturer. Pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The equipment will be located at the USDA, ARS, Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit, New Orleans, LA. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on or about June 2, 2015. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:00PM Central Standard Time, June 1, 2015. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via mail to the Contracting Officer at the following address: Contracting Office Address: USDA-ARS-WBSC Shalunda Mix 141 Experiment Station Road Stoneville, MS. 38776-0225