Servo Amplifiers and Installation Services

This publication serves as notice of intent to procure services and equipment for the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) on a sole source basis with ViaSat, Inc., in accordance with the authority the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at Subpart 13.501(a), Sole Source Requirements. Using FAR Parts 12 and 13.5, the Government intends to negotiate a contract with ViaSat, Inc. for three new 48 Amp servo amplifiers, two of which will replace existing amplifiers in an existing azimuth pedestal. The third amplifier will be kept as a spare. The purchase will include installation, integration and testing, which must be completed by January 27, 2017. Background: The NSSL and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) partnered to develop a multi-function radar that will perform joint weather surveillance and aircraft detection. The Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) project, initiated in 2001, constructed the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) utilizing a US Navy loaned battle spare SPY-1A antenna (1970s vintage), and related equipment, installed on a rotary platform that enabled the antenna to be turned a full 360. SPY-1A array will be replaced by the modern Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD); a dual-polarized active phased array, during summer of 2017. The existing facility including the rotary platform will continue to be used by the new ATD radar. The rotary platform uses an existing ViaSat pedestal controller. The controller uses two servo amplifiers to drive two motors to rotate the radar antenna. The servo amplifiers are obsolete and one of them has failed. If the second servo amplifier fails, the system will be inoperable and will significantly delay the installation of the new radar next summer. Reason for Sole Source: The amplifiers may be purchased from multiple vendors but must be compatible with existing equipment. ViaSat, Inc. is uniquely qualified to provide the services since the installation and integration will require a software change to the installed ViaSat Antenna Control Unit. This software is ViaSat proprietary and will require ViaSat authorized personnel to make such a change. In addition, while the Servo Drive System is considered a ViaSat Standard commercial product, the customer driven modifications and non-recurring engineering are unique to the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) facility. The proposed contract action is for equipment and engineering services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source, ViaSat, under authority of FAR 13.501(a). This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, any firm that believes it can meet this requirement may provide written notification to the Contract Specialist. Such notification shall articulate your firm's capabilities and demonstrate your ability to provide the required supplies and services within the required timeframe.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. The NAICS code for this requirement is 541330 Engineering Services and the small-business size standard is $15M. . Any questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Susan Labovitz at susan.labovitz@noaa.gov by Monday, August 22, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. MDT.