Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Snow and Soil Samples

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies (CSAS) upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). ERDC-CRREL has a requirement for snow and dust samples, access to study site, and assistance with sample collection and instrumentation. The following is required: 55 Sample collection; 20 dust/microbe samples, 20 dust/snow samples and 15 soil samples for the duration of the contract. Snow samples must be collected within 24 hours of a dust-on-snow event. Samples shall be shipped overnight priority shipping to CRREL; samples shall be shipped in coolers with dry ice and eutectic packs that will be supplied by the Government. Temperature data shall be downloaded from the USACE ERDC-CRREL instrument, onto a data card that will be supplied by the Government, and emailed to CRREL once every three (3) months. Radiometers sensors shall be set up, taken down, data download and emailed to CRREL. Access to the study site is required five (5) times during the period of performance. The Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies (CSAS) is the only source reasonably available to satisfy the Government’s requirement. CSAS is the only vendor within the vicinity of the study site that can meet the requisite timeline for sample collection and assistance with instrumentation. The study site available through the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies is unique in the availability of long-term meteorology data and necessary climate conditions to achieve project objectives. CSAS owns the study plot where the instrumentation is located for the purposes of data collection. As such, it is in the Government’s best interest to have the Center collect the samples needed after the weather events’ occurrence. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380, which has a size standard of $16.5M. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CDT, 05 August 2020 to [email protected]. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.