The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City office intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with Precision Advancing Machining in Clinton Township, MI a purchase order for 60 Sensor Pole Hinge Plate Kits (P/N: 62828-43005, ASN: S100-2MT5MP36) for the National Logistics Support Center in Grandview, MO.

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation. The Government intends to award a purchase order to Precision Advancing Machining.

Sole Source Justification

The required supplies or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems or equipment and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement. The Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) utilize the hinge plate to support the functioning capabilities of the ASOS ACP/DCP and SCA units. All sensor hinge plates procured from Precision Advanced Machining have passed the first article testing required by the National Weather Service. The plates have also passed Quality Control, is the only plate that has been certified for use on ASOS, and have been in the field for over a year. It may take significant additional time to get another vendor to build one of these kits and get testing completed. This is not acceptable, as it would require significant funding and time to accomplish. A conversation with the Quality Control section of the National Logistics Support Center revealed that they estimate that the cost to retest the hinge plates would entail the vendor providing the plates to build and test them at their location. These tests would need to include a temperature cycle test. The temperature cycle test is performed to determine the resistance of a device to alternating temperature extremes. It consists of exposing the device to many cycles (500 to 1000 cycles) of high and low temperatures and primarily tests the devices resistance to fatigue failure (fatigue is defined as the failure due to cyclical loads). Once the plates are certified by the vendor, it must also pass the testing provided at the NLSC. The estimated cost associated overall can exceed $10,000 if first article is received and rejected. Estimated time can possibly drag on for months until this item meets the fit, form, and function capabilities required.

This special notice is not a request for competitive offerors and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide this service may submit substantiating documentation in writing within fifteen business days of this notice. Responses can be sent via e-mail to Abigail.green@noaa.gov. Documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. If no documentation is received, award will be made directly to Precision Advancing Machining.

DOC, Eastern Region Acquisition Division requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. Contractors active in SAM have a unique entity identifier (UEI) that is used to do business with the federal government. The Government has moved to a free new, non-proprietary identifier that will have to be requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). You can register and access the site by going to www.sam.gov.