Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Natick Soldier System Center (NSSC), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Carlton, 10 Cobham Drive, Orchard Park NY 14127-4195.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available.

Only one responsible source and no other supplies will satisfy agency requirements. The Carleton bailout bottle systems were selected as the result of a Sources Sought notice. They are being purchased from the manufacturer Carleton as test assets for the purposes of test and evaluation prior to a potential contract.
2. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs. A requirement exists to upgrade the components of the current Parachutist Oxygen System (POS), which includes the Parachutist Oxygen Mask (POM) now being fielded. The Army is seeking oxygen bailout bottles with an enhanced capacity of 30,000 psig or higher.

3. Demonstrate that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods. The enhanced capacity bailout bottles being purchased were selected for the purposes of evaluation and testing. A technical evaluation performed by Nina Shopalovich, lead engineer on the POM program, and other SMEs, determined that the proposed Carleton bailout bottles appear to meet all Government requirements. Further testing and live jumps are needed to verifiy the product's ability to meet requirements. Carleton is a well respected manufacturer of oxygen equipment, and provides the current POS components.

4. Description of market research that was conducted and results. On 19 March 2010, Sources Sought notice W911QYA3 was published in FedBizOpps requesting technical information on an enhanced capacity Bailout Bottle System. There were three respondents, of which Carleton was one. Test items are being purchased from a second respondent, Airborne Systems, while the third respondent has no suitable system currently available for purchase. Fifteen bailout bottle sets are required from Carleton for test and evaluation.

5. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.
None

6. While the proposed contract action will fill the immediate requirement for test and evaluation of bailout bottles, the Sources Sought notice will notify vendors of the Government's demand for such items. These vendors then have the opportunity to respond when, once the initial evaluation of the bailout bottles is complete, a limited competition as a set aside or a full and open solicitation for test and production items is released.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to: [email protected] no later than 8:00 a.m. on September 1, 2010.

Contracting Office Address:
RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick
CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division
Kansas Street, Building 1
Natick, MA 01760-5011

Point of Contact:
Greg Wilson, Contract Specialist
[email protected]

Bid Protests Not Available