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: ITT Night Vision 7635 Plantation Rd. Roanoke, VA 24019-3222. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: The Technology, Systems & Program Integration Directorate (TSPID) at the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Center is seeking to acquire the PSQ-20 Enhanced Night Vision Goggles. The PSQ-20 in the latest optic in NVG technology and is currently being fielded in the Area of Responsibility (ARO). The Helmet Electronic Display System Upgradeable Protection (HeaDS-Up) Army Technology Objective (ATO) has the purpose to design and develop the next generation integrated headgear system. This system must be compatible with certain fielded systems and NGVs are one of those systems. The purchases of the PSQ-20 will ensure that any new headgear systems design will be compatible with the latest NVG system being issued to Soldiers. * Key Specifications o Less than 2 lbs (907 gm) including helmet mount and batteries o Over 7.5 hours of fused operation life on 4 AA lithium batteries o High performance 16-mm image tube o 320 X 240 microbolometer o Field of View: - I2 ?38O, - IR ?28O Diagonal o I2 Resolution (1E-3 fl), 1.14 cy/mr 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): ITT is the only authorized supplier of the PSQ-20 due to the proprietary (ITT) and classified (ARMY) optics in the device. 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Product Manager Soldier Maneuver Sensors (PM SMS), who is responsible to fielding NVG devices, was contacted about what NVG system should be considered for future headgear design integration. The response back was the PSQ-20 ENVG which was contracted to ITT Night Vision. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: Since the optics of the system are classified, no other manufactures will be able to meet the performance of the Army approved PSQ-20 without going through a development cycle which will not meet the time requirements of the HeaDS-UP ATO. 5. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: PM SMS is the manger of NVG systems and they selected the PSQ-20 ENVG by ITT Night Vision as the sole source for the Army. Due to the sensitivity of the technology and possibility of compromising the safety of our Soldiers by divulging system requirements, I will not attempt to make a suggestion here. I would leave this to PM SMS. 6. 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 5:00 p.m. on August 30, 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: Sean Auld Sean Auld, Contract Specialist
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