Notice of Intent to Sole Source Reserve Parachutes.pdf

SPECIAL NOTICE: 12318721Q0102

Description: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE

The US Forest Service (USFS), Washington Office Procurement and Property Services National

Contracting Branch, (herein after referred to as “WOPPS”) intends to issue a Firm Fixed Priced contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will

Satisfy Agency Requirements, on or about February 11, 2021 to Airborne Systems North America of New

Jersey, Inc. for the USFS, National Technology & Development Program (NTDP) located in Missoula, Montana.

This requirement includes the purchase of 85, “MT1S-8305, Airborne Systems, Smokejumper Reserve

Parachutes” and 85, “Freebag/Pilot Chutes” currently used in smokejumper airborne operations. The

MT1S-8305 reserve parachutes and Freebag/Pilot chutes are used by operators in emergency situations when the main parachute fails to deploy and are a necessary component of the Ram Air Smokejumper

Delivery System (RASDS) currently used. The purchase of the MT1S-8305’s and Freebag/Pilot chutes is needed to increase the current USFS inventory to ensure mission readiness, enhance smokejumper capabilities, and maintain the level of safety required for operators. The MT1S-8305 reserve parachute and Freebag/Pilot Chute is a required piece of safety equipment for USFS Smokejumper operations as per the USFS approved parachute list and USFS Smokejumper Program Operations Plan.

WOPPS intends to non-competitively award this requirement to Airborne Systems North America of

New Jersey, Inc. The MT1S-8305 is proprietary to Airborne Systems North America of New Jersey, Inc.

and there are no other authorized vendors approved to provide this USFS mandated reserve parachute and associated freebag. Furthermore, the MT1S-8305 and Freebag/Pilot Chute is the only reserve parachute and freebag authorized to be used in conjunction with the RASDS, per the USFS smokejumper approved parachute list. The Airborne Systems North America, MT1S-8305 and Freebag/Pilot Chute are the only chest mounted reserve parachute and bag that has passed the stringent, controlled evaluation process for safety, strength, and deployment conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and adopted by the USFS following the results of said evaluations. As a result, any vendor other than

Airborne Systems North America of New Jersey, Inc. capable of providing a comparable model would not be approved by the manufacturer or per established USFS equipment approvals. Airborne Systems

North America of New Jersey, Inc. is the only source capable of providing the authorized reserve parachute and freebag required in conjunction with the RASDS to maintain the safety of personnel, equipment, continuity of service, and the uninterrupted operation and mission readiness.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 314999 with the size standard of 500 employees. This notice of intent is not a request for proposals or quotes. However, all responsible sources may submit an offer and capabilities/narrative that proves by clear and convincing evidence that detail their ability to provide MT1S-8305, Airborne Systems, Smokejumper

Reserve Parachutes and Freebag/Pilot Chutes by Airborne Systems North America of New Jersey, Inc. If said OFFER and capabilities/narrative is received within fifteen (15) calendar days of publication of this notice, the narrative will be considered by WOPPS. All responses must be submitted to the Government point of contact at the email address shown below. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the

Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Contracting Office Address:

Washington Office 201 14th St SW Washington, DC 20227

Government Point of Contact:

Marlee O’Keefe Contract Specialist Marlee.okeefe@usda.gov mailto:Marlee.okeefe@usda.gov