Train Regulators for the NLSC

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Kansas City intends to negotiate and award a purchase order, on a sole source basis, under authority of RFO FAR 6.103-1, with InterMet Systems for Train Regulators, INTERMET P/N 900316 to be delivered at the National Logistic Support Center in Grandview, MO. The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s compatibility to existing systems or equipment.

Sole Source Justification:

The manufacturer, InterMet Systems, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the single source that is capable of delivering a flight train regulator for the NWS Upper Air Program. Without this source, the NWS risks missing critical upper air data when surface winds are 25-mph and greater. The InterMet Systems is the only known qualified source of this product. This acquisition supports the collection of atmospheric sounding data which also supports World Meteorological Organization (WMO) data collection and sharing agreements.

Due to the proprietary nature of this product, market research was deemed to be not applicable. Spares for this component of the upper air observing system flight train have to meet the qualification standards of the NWS to be considered for purchase. This vendor, InterMet Systems, meets the qualification standards based on past performance of its part number 900316. Furthermore, InterMet Systems is the only company qualified to sell to the NWS a train regulator. If another company were to be considered, this would require NWS qualification testing and acceptance. This process is unacceptable at the current time because it would require significant funding and labor resources of the NWS Sterling Field Support Center (SFSC). The SFSC is evaluating and will soon test new data acquisition systems for Upper Air. For this reason, only item P/N 900316 by InterMet Systems is deemed acceptable for this procurement.

This pre-solicitation notice is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation or a request for additional information in writing to the (Contract Specialist) within 15 days after publication of this pre-solicitation notice. Such requests and 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 responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this pre-solicitation notice.