--Notice of Intent to award a Sole Source Contract

The government intends to award a sole source contract to Active Signal Technologies, located in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, for the continued development of a noise-immune stethoscope designed for use in rescue helicopters. This advanced stethoscope suppresses ambient noise to detect heart sounds accurately even in extremely loud environments, such as evacuation helicopters where noise levels can reach up to 120 decibels. The contract will be awarded under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 without a formal solicitation process. Although this notice is not an official request for proposals or quotations, all responsible parties are invited to submit capability statements or proposals for consideration. Submissions must be sent by 9:00 a.m. EST on September 12, 2008, to the specified government contact, after which the government reserves the right to proceed with awarding the contract without further competition. Any decision not to compete is at the sole discretion of the government. This contract falls under the NAICS code 541330, covering engineering services, and is aimed at enhancing the performance of medical equipment in high-noise environments to improve rescue operations. No solicitation documents will be issued, and no contract will be awarded based on responses to this notice alone.