--Intent to negotiate sole source award for blending system to be used in research project.

Under the authority of FAR 15, the U.S. Army Natick Contracting Division, Kansas Street, Natick, MA on behalf of the United States Army-Soldier Systems Center, Natick, MA intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source basis with Pat terson-Kelley Company(of East Stroudsburg, PA 18301). This order will be for supply and delivery of a blending system to be used to mix materials for biodegradable fiberboard as part of a joint research project with a major University. The technical expert s involved have performed market research and determined that the Patterson-Kelley blending system that we will be purchasing is the only system available that can meet the unique requirements of the research project. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determin ing whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability in response to this requirement to David Mark at [email protected] . This announcement will close on 30 December 2005 at 1 PM Eastern Standard Time. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.