TSS928 Thunderstorm Sensors

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER This is a notice of intent to negotiate a sole-source purchase order pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Eastern Region Acquisition Division, Norfolk, VA on the behalf of the National Weather Service and the Navy intends to negotiate a purchase order with Vaisala Inc., Woburn, MA, for nine (9) TSS928 Thunderstorm Sensors for use on the Navy Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at overseas locations. The requirement is for TSS928 sensors, which are instruments that provide local-area lightning tracking and critical local lightning threat information. The Navy's ASOS have the Vaisala TSS924 at most locations, but there is not enough stock of TSS924s to complete the installation. The Vaisala TSS924 is no longer manufactured and the TSS928 sensor is the successor to the TSS924. Due to the Vaisala Algorithms used in the Navy's ASOS sites, only the Vaisala TSS928 modified with a data translation device added in the communications link to translate the data string will work with the current Navy Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). Vaisala Inc. has no known authorized resellers for these TSS928 sensors; therefore, Vaisala is the only known responsible source that can provide the Vaisala TSS928 thunderstorm sensor. Responses to this notice must be received no later than 4:00 P.M. eastern standard time on June 18, 2014. Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement. The response must be in sufficient detail to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as previously stated. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses may be submitted via E-mail to Shaun Squyres, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov.