Mine Neutralization System Custom Container

The Government intends to award aa firm fixed price purchase order to Container Research Corporation (CRC), 2 New Rd Ste 1, Aston, PA 19014-1038 (CAGE Code 05259 VOSB), to design and test a SLQ-48 MVN Shipping and Storage Container and supporting services in direct support of the Mine Neutralization System (MNS) as follows: Prototype MNV Shipping and Storage Container 1 each Testing Report 1 each Shipping and Handling This procurement is sole source for the following reasons. The scope of this contract is to modify the current, approved shipping and storage container for the MNV, to design and develop a prototype and testing for incorporation into the MNS. The MNV system has been overhauled to have increase load. During the overhaul process, the MNV's are shipped to the overhaul site, and the newly overhauled MNV's need to be shipped to the required destination. This increased movement of the MNV has increased the wear and tear of the wood shipping containers. Therefore, more reliable and durable shipping/storage containers are needed. The current wood MNV shipping container has a service life of roughly two round trips due to the damage experienced throughout the process. The newly designed containers must fit the SLQ-48 MNV including a shipping stowage stand and securing mechanisms based on MIL-STD-648D. Additionally, Fit and Drop tests based on MIL-STD-648D have to be conducted to ensure the MNV would not be damaged during a mishandling of equipment in the course of shipping. CRC is the only company that can provide the newly designed shipping containers for the following reasons. CRC is the current source manufacturing the approved wood container for the MNV, possessing the required knowledge, special tooling, certified quality processes, qualifying limited rights to current design, and capabilities to develop structurally the same container, but improved by replacing wood with aluminum meeting the desired specifications, including complying with MIL-STD-648D testing standards. The estimated completion of the prototype is 18 weeks and incorporation into the MNS is scheduled for early FY19. The estimate of a prototype container including design, development, and testing costs is $70,000. The government does not expect significant savings from testing various prototypes, and does expect meaningful delays in schedule that are not expected to be recovered through competition. The government estimates that the current wood containers in use will not last through in FY19 and an approved replacement is needed for incorporation before full rate production can begin. CRC can provide the replacement prototype container within schedule, using current rights, expertise, and capabilities under a firm fixed price purchase order at no additional risk to the government. Therefore, it is in the governments best interest to award on a sole source basis to CRC. Per attached redacted justification, clauses and provisions. DFARS 252.211-7003 applies