Q--This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT using Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1, for Other than Full and Open Competition and FAR Part 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items.

The U.S. Research and Development Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, plans to award a sole source contract to Biotechnics, Inc. for conducting a comprehensive histopathology analysis to evaluate the toxicologic and carcinogenic effects of tungsten and tungsten/nickel/iron alloy implanted in the leg muscle of Fisher-344 rats. This contract will be awarded under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, which permits other than full and open competition, and aligns with the North American Industry Classification System code 541380, with a size standard of $12 million. The objective is to gain critical toxicological data pertinent to the implanted materials' safety profile. Interested parties were invited to express their interest in writing by June 17, 2009, but this notice did not constitute a solicitation for competitive proposals. The designated point of contact for this contract action is Jason VanLuven, a Contract Specialist with the U.S. Army, who coordinates communication regarding the acquisition. The contract falls under the Department of Defense’s contracting office at Aberdeen Proving Ground, emphasizing the specialized nature of the requirement and the selected contractor’s unique capabilities to fulfill these scientific research needs.