A--84 - Chemical food Analysis for pre and post mre storge samples

Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Natick Soldier System Center (NSSC), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Covance Laboratories, Inc , 3301 Kinsman Blvd, Madison WI 53704. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1) FAR Statutory Authority cited: 13.106-1b(1) only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. 2) Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: The Military Nutrition Division is conducting research to catalog the nutritional composition of the current ration components available for purchase and consumption by our Warfighters both in theater and during training scenarios'. A better understanding of ration nutritional composition will aid in the research conducted by the Military Nutrition Division whose research is aimed to optimize Warfighter health and performance through nutrition. Nutritional composition analyses require up-to-date equipment, knowledgeable staff, consistency of analysis techniques as well as stringent quality control methods. The Military Nutrition Division does not possess the facilities or personnel to conduct these analyses. The intent is to award a Firm Fixed Price type contract for $70,902.00. This contract will procure the services of Covance Laboratories Inc. to perform analysis of food samples from Meal-Ready-to-Eat (MRE) version 31 and Meal Cold Weather (MCW) in two phases (pre and post storage). This contract will include tasks which will be completed by 1 April 2012 (Phase I) and 1 November 2012 (Phase II). 3) A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): This vendor is the only vendor capable of meeting the requirements of the Military Nutrition Division's research needs required in the ongoing Ration Analysis Program. The end product of the Ration Analysis Program is a cumulative database with requirements to include single item comparisons of nutritional content. Analyses have been conducted by this vender since the inception of this program (> 5 years) due to the complexity of the nutrient analysis comparison over both time (newly procured items versus stored item nutrient changes) and over ration procurement years (changes in recipe formulations). This vendor has the quality control measures needed to stabilize and compare the results required for the Ration Analysis Program Database. This is a necessity when maintaining a database containing complex data trending storage and procurement changes over time. Changing vendors would be harmful in data analysis, research results, and publication validity. 4) A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Market research was conducted at Ration Analysis Program inception concluding that Covance Laboratories Inc. provided all the necessary food analysis requirements and maintained the quality control measures required to meet the needs of the Program. Due to the need for continuity over time, Covance is the only source available for the continuation of this Program. Covance has over 30 years experience in the food analysis tests for USDA, FDA and AOAC. Covance provides excellent services for the good of the government. 5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: Our previous market survey indicated that only Covance Laboratories Inc. had the skilled professional staff and resources necessary to perform the tasks required to conduct these tests. USARIEM identified Covance Laboratories Inc. as the most viable option, based on past performance, technical capability and cost. To date, no other sources have written to express an interest. 6) 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: Not feasible at our level. 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 8:00 a.m. on June 20, 2011. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Greg Wilson, Contract Specialist contact@example.gov