A--Perform Data Analysis and write technical report regarding dietary supplement use

The U.S. Army Natick Contracting Division, representing the United States Army-Soldier Systems Center, intends to negotiate a sole source purchase order with Abt Associates, Inc. for data analysis and the preparation of a technical report on dietary supplement use. This action is authorized under FAR 6.302-1, indicating that the procurement will not be competed at this time. The purpose of the data collection and report is to inform future decisions about whether a competitive procurement might be pursued. Although this notice is not a request for proposal and no solicitation document is available, interested parties may express their interest and capability to respond by contacting the contracting office via email by September 16, 2009. Notably, a reduced response time of seven days is specified per Note 22. The contract relates specifically to performing data analysis and report writing concerning dietary supplement use, with the solicitation number W911QY-9229-3001. The contracting office is located in Natick, Massachusetts, and operates under the Department of Defense. The procurement process is confidential, and no competitive or set-aside designations are involved. The information received from interested parties will be used solely to determine if a future competitive process is warranted, rather than as part of the current procurement decision.