70--NOTICE OF INTENT FOR SOLE SOURCE AWARD

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Southwestern Power Administration plans to award a contract for the Cascade upgrade to version 3.51 through a sole source procurement, citing brand name justification. This contracting approach is in accordance with federal acquisition regulations that allow for non-competitive awards under certain conditions. The relevant industry classification falls under NAICS code 541511, with a small business size standard of $25.5 million. Although this notice is not a solicitation for quotes or proposals, interested firms are invited to express their interest and demonstrate their capability to fulfill the contract requirements by submitting documentation to the Contract Specialist by a specified deadline. This notification is intended solely to gauge potential competition and does not obligate the government to proceed with a contract award. Any responses received will be reviewed at Southwestern’s discretion to determine whether a competitive procurement process is necessary. Respondents are advised that they will not be reimbursed for any costs incurred during the response process, and Southwestern retains full authority over the decision to conduct or forego competitive bidding for this upgrade project.