This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under the FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334515 with a small business size standard of 750 employees.

The Government requires a purchase of one (1) Microwave Radiometer (RPG-LWP-U72+82-G5) with customer specified options to support ongoing research and development activity to support in-house V/W band propagation research and the AFRL W and V Band Satellite Communications Experiment (WSCE). The specified options consist of the following specs:

1. Item Number: 59000246
Description: RPG-LWP-U72+82-G5
Four-channel direct detection microwave radiometer with channels at 23.8 GHz, 31.4 GHZ, 72.5 GHz, and 82.5 GHz (bandwidth 230, 230, 2000, 2000 MHz). Stand, cables, GPS, dew blower, heater, calibration target, weather station, two neural network retrieval sets and microwave radiometer software included. Data transfer via LAN connection.

2. Item Number: 40007110
Description: Option - Azimuth Positioner
For RPG-Std-MWR including power supply for drive unit

3. Item Number: 41000002
Description: Option - Host PC
Laptop for remote control of the microwave radiometer via Ethernet/LAN interface with software loaded and tested

A quantity of one (1) is required for items 1-3 above.

The Government intends to negotiate a sole source contract with:

ATS Services Ltd
35 Auriga Drive Suite 213
Nepean ON, Canada K2E 8B7

The Government has determined that no other source can meet this requirement based on the performance characteristics required for this specific type of microwave radiometer. This instrument has a highly specialized configuration of LWP (Liquid Water Path) with additional channels at 72.5 GHz and 82.5 GHz, specifically customized for the Governments intended scientific uses.

The Government requires the RPG-LWP-U72+82-G5 and specified components for their in-house research. The RPG's in use must provide calibration and backup to the ground terminals and to maintain operability and the operational capabilities the Government requires this additional RPG G5 radiometer.

The microwave radiometers must be technically compatible and interoperable with the existing equipment to ensure consistency and continuity in experimentation. RPG radiometers have custom internally fabricated hardware, custom firmware and software. Due to the specialized and proprietary nature of the equipment, there are no existing third party sources that possess the required technical knowledge or capability to provide the required radiometer. In order to maintain, troubleshoot and repair the RPG in house, the Government attended a training at the RPG factory in Germany. Therefore any other product is provided the Air Force would experience a substantial duplication of cost not expected to be recovered through competition.

This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to [email protected]. Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government in future procurements.

Responses received will be evaluated; however a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 30 September 2018.

A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award.

Bid Protests Not Available