SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Title: AVL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE/UPGRADE SERVICE AT NVFEL NAICS Code: 334519: Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing Description: This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. All questions and/or comments shall be addressed via email to Chantal Guetat (
[email protected]). Background: The U.S. EPA, National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) located in Ann Arbor, Michigan intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with AVL North Test America Systems, Inc (AVL) in order to provide preventive and remedial maintenance, spare parts and upgrade services to AVL-supplied vehicle and engine emission test equipment and associated component owned by EPA under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. This requirement will utilize FAR Parts 12 and 13. Objective: The analytical benches are controlled by AVL iGEM software. iGEM is AVL¿s automation system for emissions testing. iGEM offers pre-configured, legal test cycles, device control and calculation reporting of results captured in iGEM. Maintenance, repairs, and upgrades require access to the source code of the proprietary software above. The systems are configured, hard-wired, rigidly plumbed and proprietarily programmed to accept AVL replacement parts. The AVL replacement parts come with factory settings specified to meet specific AVL applications. The Engine Test Center (ETC) has an AVL CVS system that is the only one like it in the United States With a special double-wall flow design. There is only one other known system like it in Europe. The AVL CVS requires specially trained AVL staff to maintain and calibrate. The Testing Services Group operates the HTF (Hot Test Facility). This site consists of one raw and one dilute gas analyzer bench. An Innova bench, CVS (constant volume sampler), PSS (particulate sampling system), heated tunnel associated software and gas divider. All require annual maintenance to perform at standards set in the CFR. This contract will perform this maintenance once each year downing the bench when the need is low reducing down time during critical use periods and improving reliability. Due to the proprietary nature of both the testing equipment and software that comprise this system, AVL North America is the only contractor that can supply parts and software with the ability to do this work. AVL builds and writes the software for this system. No other contractors can complete this work. AVL builds and writes the software for the system. AVL is the only known source able to satisfy the preventive and remedial maintenance requirements, spare parts and upgrade for the AVL-supplied equipment owned by the EPA. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. However, any firm believing itself capable of providing preventive and remedial maintenance service of AVL may submit technical documentation to establish their capability. Such documentation must be submitted to the Contract Specialist by March 20, 2020. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses received will normally be considered solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source. Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Standards is applicable for this requirement. Capability Statement /Information Sought. The respondent's response shall also include any other specific and relevant information related to the requirements of this project that will enable the Government to determine the capabilities of the company to perform the specialized requirements described in this synopsis. Interested organizations must demonstrate and document in any response submitted, to this market survey extensive experience with and the ability to perform all of the specialized requirements elsewhere described. The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to a fifteen (15) page limit. The 15-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. The response must include the respondent's technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Please include in the subject line¿"AVL Maintenance/Upgrade Service at NVFEL". All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically (facsimile responses are NOT accepted) to: Chantal Guetat Contract Specialist EPA/OAS
[email protected] The response must be received on or before March 20, 2020, 10:00 AM (EST). Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).