41--NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE TO HOWDEN NORTH AMERICA FOR REPLACEMENT WHEEL 54 D5 TYPE 'S' ADJUSTAX FAN ASSEMBLY FOR EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER.

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground plans to award a sole source contract to Howden North America for a replacement wheel assembly and related parts for the main blower unit of a large test chamber. This blower unit, originally manufactured by Buffalo Forge and now under Howden North America following acquisition, requires a proprietary replacement component that is not available from other suppliers. The acquisition falls under NAICS code 811310 with a $7 million size standard. This notice serves to inform interested parties of the sole source intent and allows submission of written interest by noon on April 25, 2013, though no competitive proposals or offers are solicited. The contract pertains specifically to the replacement of the 54 D5 Type 'S' Adjustax fan assembly at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. The decision to negotiate solely with Howden North America is justified under applicable federal acquisition regulations due to the proprietary nature of the equipment and parts. Interested individuals or firms may express their interest directly to the designated government point of contact, Contract Specialist TJ Compton. This procurement ensures continuity and compatibility for critical equipment used in the Department of Defense’s research and testing environment at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.