83--PEI-carbon coating on ePTFE with Nomex stabilizing fabric

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 Warfighter Science, Technology and Applied Research Directorate (WARSTAR), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Stedfast USA, Inc., Ivyland, PA 18974. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. RESPONSES WILL BE RECEIVED FOR FUTURE REQUIREMENT CONSIDERATION ONLY. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: Contract modification is required to cover expenses for a correction manufacturing run for the production of a chemically active membrane (CLIN 0001). The membrane originally manufactured for CLIN 0001 has significant quality control issues that the contractor feels can be corrected by another manufacturing run with slight materials selection differences in the correction run. 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.): Only Stedfast Corporation can conduct this contract modification to correct the manufacturing issues that they encountered during the processing of the first membrane run. Due to the significant experience of Stedfast in the manufacturing of chemically active membranes, their prior experience with this particular product, and the fact that they were the only company to respond to the Market Survey conducted during the scoping phase of the purchase request preparation of the original contract, it is found that Stedfast Corporation is the sale source for this contract modification and technology. 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: 15-day Market Survey was announced via a Request for Information (RFI) synopsis was posted in the FedBizzOps via the Army Single Face to Industry (ASFI) on 03 May 2011. Only Stedfast Corporation responded with a quotation. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: The purchase description was adequate for full and open competition, and more than one possible fabric producer was identified as a potential material provider, and more than one company received an invitation for quotation on the 03 May 2011 Market Survey. Only one company responded. 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: Continue to keep all companies capable of conducting the manufacturing of membranes appraised of similar opportunities. 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: steve.streeter@us.army.mil no later than 5:00 PM (EST) August 6, 2011. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCAP-SCN, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist (508) 233-6180 steve.streeter@us.army.mil