Notice of Intent to Solicit and Award a Sole Source Contract to R.W. Fernstrum & Company

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, intends to award a sole source contract to R.W. Fernstrum & Company, 1716 11th Avenue, Menominee, MI 49858, to provide (4) R.W. Fernstrum & Company GRIDCOOLER® Keel Coolers for the MPV Brandy Station This action will result in a firm fixed price contract.

This Notice of Intent to award a sole source contract is not a request for competitive proposals. There is no solicitation document. No RFP will be available for competitive proposals. Phone calls will not be accepted.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 332410 – Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with the acquisition of commercial items prescribed in FAR Part 12 in conjunction with the policies and procedures for solicitation, evaluation and award prescribed in FAR part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The small business size standard is 750 employees.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C 1901 or the authority of 41 U.S.C 1903 as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b). Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the contracting officer may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization). Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements.

This shall be a Brand Name justification because these keel coolers are proprietary, and no other company can manufacture them. GRIDCOOLER® Keel Coolers are proprietary items and R.W. Fernstrum & Company Technicians are the only available source. Changing the keel coolers to another brand would require consulting with another manufacturer about the specifications and measurements required for the specific engine and power options installed on the Vessel Brandy Station and re-routing the piping to connect another brand of keel coolers. The period of performance is 22 November 2023.

The point of contact for this action is Contracting Specialist, Terri Adams, who can be reached at terri.m.adams@usace.army.mil and Contracting Officer, Jenifer Garland, who can be reached at jenifer.m.garland@usace.army.mil. Interested parties may express their interest and provide a capabilities statement NLT 12 September 2023 at 4:00 PM EST. A determination not to compete this proposed contract upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.