The Government intends to award a noncompetitive purchase order using procedures authorized by FAR Subparts 12.6 and 13.5 for eleven (11) each portable Fourier Transform Infrared chemical identification machines, model IdentifyIR, with related computer/peripherals, and on-site assembly, installation, training, and on-site warranty coverage, from Smiths Detection, to be donated for use by the government of Ecuador under the Department's international narcotics and law enforcement program. This notice is not a request for competitive quotations; this acquisition will be processed using the authority in FAR 6.302-1. Justification for other than full and open competition is that the Government requires portable chemical identification equipment that is easy to use and features software using diamond attenuated total reflection sampling that can be operated easily by non-specialist personnel. The Narcotics Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador has researched this technology and was unable to find any other companies that have this type of technology. Although other FT-IR machines exist, most are designed for use in a controlled environment (such as a laboratory); none of them has the portability/rugged and input-output features required by NAS and the Government of Ecuador (such as a connected laptop computer for display of operations and results). Also, many FT-IR machines are designed to check for gases rather than liquids or solids. The required equipment must be portable, be able to identify suspect chemicals in seconds, and be able to identify both liquids and solids, including narcotics or precursor chemicals camouflaged in other liquids or material. Only the IdentifyIR equipment meets these needs. Solicitation is not available at this time. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to change the acquisition strategy.

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