54--NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center plans to issue a sole source contract to Lafarge North America, Inc. for the purchase of six Ductal Wall Panels. These panels are required for research testing to compare the performance of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) materials, specifically Ductal, whose proprietary material properties and strength characteristics are unique to Lafarge. As the sole manufacturer and supplier of Ductal in North America, Lafarge is the only source that can fulfill this requirement. The acquisition will be conducted as a commercial procurement through negotiation, and it is not open for competitive bidding under FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A), which covers procurements where only one responsible source exists. Although this is not a solicitation for competitive proposals, other responsible parties may still submit capability statements or quotations for consideration by a specified deadline. Interested entities must submit their information by April 16, 2012, to the designated Contract Specialist. The contract falls under NAICS code 327320, related to ready-mix concrete manufacturing, and represents an effort to procure specialized materials critical to the government’s ongoing research and development initiatives in construction materials.