Notice of Intent

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intends to negotiate a one-time sole source contract with iRobot Corporation, 8 Crosby Drive, Bedford, MA 01730. The Government intends to negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. This notice will be distributed solely through the General Services Administration's Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Website (www.fedbizopps.gov). Interested parties are responsible for monitoring the FBO site to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. The North American Classification System Code is 334511, Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing; the size standard is 750 employees. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intends to award a non-competitive, sole source contract to iRobot Corporation, 8 Crosby Drive, Bedford, MA 01730 for an iRobot 510 PackBot Robotic System. Under the FBI's Explosives characterization research and testing efforts, Element 2 (Homemade Explosives Synthesis and Characterization) specifically identifies "safety and characterization testing" as a task to be performed and documented as part of the explosives characterization research effort. This research will consist of the synthesis, manufacturing, and on-site transport of these explosives. Many improvised explosives can be extremely sensitive to impact. The FBI requires a system that would provide a dedicated EOD transport robot to accomplish the task of remotely mixing, handling, and transporting sensitive, improvised explosives to a testing location. Furthermore, the FBI needs a robot that can be modified with various tools, such as cameras, to investigate the scene of a failed explosion to determine the nature of the failure without compromising personnel in the process. The 510 PackBot Robotic System from iRobot Corporation is the only robot that meets the FBI critical specifications listed below: - Robot must be able to be carried/deployed by a single person, with a maximum weight of 30 pounds not including attached batteries; - Robot must not exceed 75 pounds with batteries attached; - Robot must be able to travel through snow, gravel, sand, mud, and rough terrain in all weather conditions; - Robot must be able to climb stairs up to a 30 degree angle; - Robot must be able to travel at speeds up to 5 miles per hour; - Robot flippers must be removable to decrease the chassis footprint for narrow passageways; - Robot must remain operational if the flipper tracks are removed; - Robot manipulator arm must have at least a 2-meter reach and 6 - 8 independent, degrees of freedom; - Robot manipulator arm must be equipped with a gripper, a disruptor firing circuit, illuminators, 2 - 4 cameras and a protective blast shield; - Robot manipulator arm must be able to lift at least 25 pounds at close-in position and 10 pounds at full arm extension; - Robot must possess a completely digital architecture; - Robot must be able to automatically right itself if it is flipped over; - Robot must possess at least four ports that can house additional electrical power, cameras, sensors or other payloads in addition to its standard compliment of cameras, illumination sources and audio link; - Robot must have the ability to function independent of radio links or concern for electromagnetic emissions; - The robot must be shielded to allow operation with or near electromagnetic-sensitive equipment and instrumentation; - Robot must possess a rugged laptop for control and software operation; - Robot must possess an open architecture that enables the user to take advantage of future upgrades; - Robot must possess appropriate, pre-installed, configured applications and software that do not need to be updated or reinstalled by the customer; - Robot must be powered by rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries capable of providing at least four hours of runtime coverage on one charge; - Robot must come equipped with a spare set of lithium-ion batteries; - Vendor must be able to provide instruction on the setup and proper use of the robot, including support for development and integration of the technology for the specific use envisioned for the robot. iRobot Corporation is the sole manufacturer and provider of the iRobot 510 PackBot System. The iRobot 510 PackBot System is the only robot that meets all the requirements of the FBI. In addition, the FBI current owns an iRobot 510 PackBot System. The new system will be installed at the new FBI Facility in Huntsville, AL. The new system must be identical as training will be provided to FBI personnel on the use of the robot in the mixing and safe handling of very sensitive improvised explosives. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement to this office by 08:00 am, ET, August 31, 2015, by email to the attention of Jerry Varnell, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Telephone requests will not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Vendors must be registered in SAM, effective July 29, 2012 to receive government contracts. The FBI uses a financial system that has a direct interface with SAM. Please ensure that your company's SAM information is updated and accurate. This includes TIN, EFT, DUNS, addresses and contact information. The EFT banking information on file in SAM will be what the FBI uses to process payment to your organization.