Notice of Intent to Award Sole-Source Contract for Large-Scale Additive Manufactured Temporary Radar Protective Covers

GENERAL INFORMATION AND STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, USN, Bath, ME (SUPSHIP Bath) announces its intent to solicit, negotiate, and award a sole-source, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract to the University of Maine Orono's Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC), located in Orono, ME.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) (formerly 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements."

Pursuant to FAR 5.102 and FAR 6.305, the redacted Justification and Approval (J&A) document approved by the Competition Advocate (Code 400) on 4 September 2026 is attached to this special notice.

2. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT AND SCOPE

The Government requires the design, material validation, physical testing, and fabrication of custom-fit, weather-tight, impact-resistant, and flame-retardant temporary protective covers. These specialized covers provide heavy industrial barrier protection for the sensitive, high-value AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) array faces on designated Flight III Guided-Missile Destroyer (DDG) platforms during active shipyard construction, outfitting, and pier-side integration.

The anticipated scope of work comprises:

Base Requirement (CLINs 0001 - 0004): Design review and engineering, material formulation and drop validation testing, and additive manufacturing delivery of one (1) initial shipset of four (4) customized temporary protective covers, including complete technical data deliverables under Government Purpose Rights (GPR).

Support Services (CLIN 0005): Firm-Fixed-Price post-manufacturing support package consisting of pre-priced engineering hours for shipyard rigging coordination and fit-checks (SLIN 0005AA) and pre-priced field patch and repair material kits (SLIN 0005AB).

Option Quantities (CLINs 0006 & 0007): Pre-priced contract options for up to two (2) additional replication shipsets of four (4) covers each (totaling eight (8) option covers) to support subsequent Flight III hull outfitting schedules.

The total estimated value across the base requirement and all options is under $2,000,000, funded utilizing SCIB funding.

3. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Detailed in the attached redacted Justification and Approval.

4. SUBMISSION OF CAPABILITY STATEMENTS

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. A solicitation will not be posted publicly. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

Interested parties must demonstrate in writing their existing, certified capability to meet the Government's technical and schedule requirements without causing unacceptable delays to ongoing naval construction. Submissions must include:

1. Detailed evidence of an existing, fully operational large-scale additive manufacturing gantry system capable of printing a single-piece or modular thermoplastic enclosure matching the physical envelope of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar array foundations.

2. Demonstrated technical capability to compound, print, and certify composite materials.

3. Demonstrated ability to ingest shipbuilder 3D CAD parametric solid models directly into machine-ready additive instructions without requiring external mold tooling, and delivery of initial shipset articles.

4. Company name, CAGE code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), business size classification under NAICS 326199, and primary technical point of contact.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.