52--GASKETS

The Department of Defense, specifically the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, intends to issue a sole source purchase order via simplified acquisition procedures under FAR Part 13 to Jasper Rubber Products for 400 mm box gaskets. Jasper Rubber Products is uniquely qualified because it is the only known company with the necessary tooling to manufacture the gasket according to the current military specifications. This gasket underwent an extensive qualification process over 11 months by the Air Force and MCAAP, and it is deemed neither cost-effective nor timely to qualify new tooling, as doing so would disrupt production and cause lost time for the government. The purchase order will be awarded without full and open competition under FAR 13.106-1(b) and FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii) due to the sole source nature of the requirement. This notice is not a solicitation or request for offers but serves to inform interested parties that the government reserves the right to decide whether to compete the procurement in the future. Information received will generally be used only for assessing potential future competition. No telephone requests or inquiries will be accepted; interested parties must direct communications by email to the contracting officer, Darla Lott.