Intent to award Sole Source for a filament spooling machine

The Department of the Navy, SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Showmark, LLC, located in Exton, PA for a UniSpooler filament spooling machine (per the attached requirements list) under NAICS 333999. This equipment is a fiber optic filament spooler used to wind fiber optic cable onto a mandrel. This equipment will be procured in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12-Commercial Items and FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Sole source determination is made in accordance with: FAR Part 13.106-1 Soliciting Competition (b) Soliciting from a single source (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available. The mission of SPAWAR SSC PAC is to enable Naval, Joint, National, and Coalition war fighters with information dominance through research, development, delivery, and support of integrated capabilities. As such, it is essential SPAWAR provide the necessary equipment and services required for our warfighters to be successful in these efforts. This equipment will support multiple research projects by managing long length of bare optical fiber. This machine will allow for bare fibers 100s of meters in length to be spooled under tension. It is critical that these fibers are spooled under tension with minimal twist and without breaking the fragile fibers. A market survey was performed via internet search and discussions with other users performing similar tasks. Market research results show only spooling machines from Showmark appear to meet NIPR requirements. Most spoolers and winders are developed for wire cables or large fiber cable production operations. The latter of which exceeds the lower SWAP-C requirement for lab benchtop use. Code 55360 also actively interacts with fiber optic community through conference attendance and collaboration with vendor/university stakeholders. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other COTS spooler that meets our current and future requirements. Showmark, LLC is the only known source that can provided the requested equipment. This is not a request for quotes and a solicitation package will not be issued. Sources interested in responding to this requirement must be able to provide compelling evidence that they can provide the abovementioned requirement as specified. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contractual action based upon responses received is solely within the discretion of the government. Responses must be received via email ([email protected]) by 3:00 p.m. EST on 10 September 2018.