Payload Mounting Hardware

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Meeker Special Ops Corporation upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106-1(b). ERDC-CRREL's RS/GIS Center of Expertise in Hanover, NH seeks to procure dedicated payload mounting hardware for the operation of their aerial mapping sensor systems from helicopter platforms. The requested instrumentation must have 100% seamless interoperability with existing equipment and include the following minimum specifications: Eurocopter AS-350 payload mount Secure external payload to Eurocopter AS-350 helicopter 120 lb. payload capacity >1.5 ft2 frontal area capacity for payload Does not require permanent alteration to aircraft for installation FAA and EASA approved for flight operations Mounts to aircraft main structure Places payload in fore of aircraft skid Compatible with left or right side of aircraft installation Compatible with quick release dovetail plate AF-R44-001 Mounting Plate Compatible with the AF-R44M Nose Mount for Robinson R44/R66 Can be installed on Robinson R44 or R66 FAA and EASA approved for flight operations ERDC-CRREL requires the dedicated payload mounting hardware for the operation of their aerial mapping sensor systems from helicopter platforms. Specifically, RSGIS CX requires an AFDP-1-1 Left Hand Post Mount from Meeker Special Ops Corporation used for the installation and operation of an external sensor payload on the Eurocopter AS-350 helicopter. Additionally, RSGIS CX requires AF-R44-001 Mounting Plates (x8) from Meeker Special Ops Corporation, for use with an existing aircraft mount owned and operated by RSGIS CX. The AF-R44-001 Mounting Plate is compatible with equipment used on RobinsonR44 and R66 helicopters. The Center currently owns and operates several airborne laser scanners and aerial mapping sensors, all of which are capable of being externally mounted to piloted helicopters for the collection of high-resolution, high-accuracy topographic information. The payload mounting equipment must be fully interoperable with existing equipment, allowing RSGIS CX to safely and securely install their sensor payloads to the Eurocopter AS-350, Robinson R44 and Robinson R66 helicopters. Based on previous purchases and market research, Meeker Aviation Services LTD remains the only viable, available vendor for these requirements. The existing aerial mapping equipment owned and operated by RSGIS CX is designed to work with the products made by Meeker Aviation, and must be used in combination with said products in order to fall within FAA and EASA flight regulation approval. Meeker Special Ops Corporation has been identified as the only company authorized to distribute their required products in the United States. Continuity between equipment is vital to preserve the validity of the Contractor's warranty and ensure successful operations. As such, Meeker Special Ops Corporation is the only provider capable of fulfilling the Government's requirement. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 332510, which has a size standard of 750 employees. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CST, 17 December 2020 to contact@example.gov. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.