PANDTA26P0000033411_JA MFR-Prototype_FINAL___Redacted_10-22-2026.pdf

This is a Determination and Finding (D&F) for a single-source purchase under FAR Part 6, submitted by the Army Contracting Command (SIAD). The procurement involves purchasing 10 Refrigeration Unit Controller Enclosure Kits that will be integrated and mounted to the Mobile Remains Collection System (MIRCS) subsystems. The kits are manufactured by Guild Associates, Inc. under CAGE code 4X630 and contract number UEI G1RKNNXESY18.

The estimated total purchase price is being withheld from the document. Funding for this FY26 purchase will come from Army Working Capital Funds (ACWF). The justification for the single-source award to Guild Associates invokes the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) for one responsible source. Guild Associates is identified as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the MIRCS system. The D&F establishes that alternative sources were reviewed, including mandatory sources such as Ability One, Unicor, and GSA Global, as well as open-market alternatives like Arduino and ESP32, but none met government requirements for communicating with existing MIRCS subsystems. The technical specifications require proprietary controller enclosures with specific dimensions (12" x 8" x 7") to fit within the tight space constraints of the system deployed in austere field environments. DEVCOM Engineers determined it would not be economically feasible to reverse-engineer the enclosure and create a government substitute. The Contracting Officer certified this justification on 9/23/2026.