HOGEN MAINTENANCE KITS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Kansas City intends to negotiate and award a purchase order, on a sole source basis, under authority of RFO FAR 6.103-1, with Nel Hydrogen US for Hogen maintenance kits to be delivered to Sterling Field Support Center in Sterling, VA. The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s compatibility to existing systems or equipment.

Sole Source Justification

Nel is the only manufacturer of the maintenance kits for the HOGEN. These kits are going to make sure that SFSC’s HOGEN is up to date on their maintenance for the last 4 years. Maintenance kits keep the HOGEN unit running smoothly. Proper maintenance can extend the expected life of a HOGEN up to 10 years. Sterling is used as a training and learning facility. This product is not produced commercially. To pursue an alternative would require NWS qualification testing and acceptance. This process is unacceptable at the current time because it would require significant funding and labor resources of the NWS Sterling Field Support Center (SFSC). These kits fit form, functionality, and are compatible with NWS HOGEN units. 

This pre-solicitation notice is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation or a request for additional information in writing to tyran.claypool@noaa.gov within 15 days after publication of this pre-solicitation notice. Such requests and documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this pre-solicitation notice.