66--Instron Model 5966

Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Warfighter Protection and Aerial Delivery Directorate (WARPAD), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Instron, Norwood, MA 02062. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE. INQUIRIES AND RESPONSES WILL BE USED FOR FUTURE SOLICITATIONS ONLY. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: This Instron testing instrument will be used to test tensile and compression of various textile materials that are used in the field by the soldier. This tester will have the capability to test anything from 1 gram to 2,000 pounds. 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.): There are currently 3 Instrons in the lab with various parts and load cells, if this tensile machine is not purchased from Instron, none of the parts will be able to be used on the new machine. 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: A market research was not conducted because the manufacturer ofthe equipment is the only supplier able to manufacture this machine that is compatible with the lab's existing parts and load cells. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: Without this testing machine the lab will not be able to expand to perform testing to the capacity of up to 2,000 pounds. 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: The current base tensile testing machines, parts and load cells are all manufactured by Instron. Unless this new equipment is purchased from Instron, then none of the parts and load cells will work on a different machine. 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: contact@example.gov no later than 5:00 PM (EST) on October 18, 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: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist +1 (555) 000-0000 contact@example.gov