66--Intent to award a contract to Instron.

Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the US Army Combat Feeding directorate, intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Instron, 825 University Ave, Norwood, MA 02062. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE. RESPONSES WILL BE USED FOR FUTURE ACQUISITIONS ONLY. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: Model 5965 Materials Testing System (capacity 5 kN), including: Load cell, Software, Grips, Installation, Integration of Customer Computer, Load Cell Verification of New Load Cell and Existing Load Cell, Speed and Displacement Verification, Training, and Warranty. 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.): Instron is the only source that can provide a dual column table-top electromechanical testing system with integrated digital closed-loop control and data acquisition electronics, including crosshead extension and load measurement channels. In addition, Instron provides compatible software, which is capable of calculating mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, elongation, and seal strength of packaging materials, such as film and sheet. Also included in the software is Instron's complete calculation library with hundreds of pre-programmed calculations. 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: An online market search was conducted to identify other dual column table-top electromechanical testing system, however none were found that meet the requirements of CFD. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: Prior history and prior testing using a similar (older model:4400RfI130) testing system supplied by this company. CFD currently has a dual column table-top electromechanical testing system, manufactured by Instron@, which has undergone retrofitting in the past to update the equipment for use with newer software that allowed for more powerful data analysis. However, due to the equipment's prolonged service life, the current test system is no longer functional, and therefore an upgraded system is required. As mentioned above, Instron is the only source capable of providing this equipment due to the fact that data generated on the older model must be comparable, and tested in the same manner as all future testing. 5. 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 12:00 Noon (EST) on July 19th, 2011. Contracting Office Address: Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Jeffrey Bernard, Contract Specialist (508)-233-6105 contact@example.gov