The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to solicit, negotiate and award on a sole source basis a purchase order with Belfort Instruments Company for the procurement of 25 each replenishment Calibration Kits, for the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Visibility Sensor for the National Logistics Support Center (NLSC).

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation. The Government intends to award a purchase order to Belfort Instruments Company for the procurement of Calibration Kits, for the ASOS Visibility Sensor based on the proprietary nature of the supply as well as their compatibility in form, fit and function to the original equipment of the visibility sensor.

This visibility sensor which has been integrated into the ASOS is produced by Belfort Instrument Co. The required supplies or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems or equipment and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement. Logistics replacement parts for ASOS are required to be form, fit, and functionally identical to the parts currently deployed on fielded systems. This acquisition supports replacement of visibility sensors at fielded ASOS sites, they are required to be identical to the equipment currently fielded. No substitution is acceptable. To meet the logistical support requirements needed to maintain sensor operation it is required to purchase a calibration kit specific to the Belfort sensor. Belfort Instrument considers this item as proprietary and so is the only known source of supply. The original equipment was subjected to a stringent qualification test regime which included operational testing, field testing, and environmental qualification testing. Acceptance of any item other than the original equipment would require that testing be completely re-accomplished. This is not acceptable, as it would require significant funding and time to accomplish and would result in fielded ASOS systems being unavailable.

Manufacturers that propose a solution using other than Belfort Instruments Company must furnish detailed specifications and descriptions to demonstrate their capability to provide the required supplies that satisfy the Government’s needs. To be considered, interested parties must be able to demonstrate their ability to provide comparable Calibration Visibility Kits that meets the specific characteristics outlined above. Capability information shall include, at minimum, name, telephone number, address of customers for which you have previously furnished the required supplies, and a detailed narrative that describes your ability to provide the required supplies as specified. Interested parties must respond via email to [email protected] prior to the closing of this notice.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 334519. The government intends to solicit and negotiate with the only known source (Belfort Instruments Company) that can provide the Calibration Visibility Kits. This is not a request for quotes or proposals and there is no solicitation available at this time. The Government reserves the right to solicit quotes based on the receipt of affirmative responses to this posting without further notice. 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 open competition to businesses other than Belfort Instruments Company.

All contractors doing business with this Contracting Office (Eastern Acquisition Division – Kansas City) must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) website. Vendors can register with SAM at the following website https://www.sam.gov.