--Life Support Oxygen Breathing Apparatus

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Natick Contracting Division, acting on behalf of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Soldier System Center, seeks to negotiate and award a sole source purchase order to Carleton Technologies, Inc. for the testing and evaluation of a prototype Life Support Oxygen Breathing Apparatus. This procurement falls under the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 13.5 Test Program for Certain Commercial Acquisitions and follows procedures outlined in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. Carleton Technologies is one of only two vendors identified from a previous market survey as capable of providing items that meet the specific requirements for this respirator equipment. The purpose of this contract is strictly for test and evaluation, comparing the prototype apparatus with commercial products offering similar functionalities. The acquisition is managed through the Department of Defense office located in Natick, MA, under NAICS code 332912, which covers manufacturing related to fluid power cylinders and actuators, fitting the nature of the equipment. The solicitation was posted in October 2006 and remains open for inquiries until the closing date of October 26, 2006. Interested parties were advised to direct questions to the identified government representative at the Natick facility. The procurement emphasizes the strategic importance of equipping special operations forces with advanced life support breathing apparatuses tested rigorously before potential fielding.