Four (4) - 119 Gallon 4BW Cylinders - Intent to Sole Source

NASA/JSC has a requirement for quantity of four (4), new 119 gallon, 4BW Department of Transportation (DOT) Special Permit 11580 Cylinders with a 500-PSI design pressure, to include delivery to White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, NM.  The cylinder dimensions shall be 30” outer diameter x over height of approximately 63”.  The cylinders shall be compliant with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 178.61 “Specification 4BW welded steel cylinders with electric-arc welded seam”, regulated by the Department of Transportation. Cylinders will be used for propellant storage and transportation.

NASA/JSC intends to issue a sole source contract to Columbiana Boiler Company (CBC), LLC.  CBC is deemed the only capable manufacturer that produces the cylinders for hypergolic products.  The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A), “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” This authority allows for other than full and open competition when supplies are deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

The 119 gallon, 4BW cylinders are highly specialized and required to meet strict specifications outlined in CFR 178.61.  From market research conducted, CBC was the only vendor with the capabilities and certifications required to manufacture the cylinders for storage/transportation of hypergolic products which are explosive materials.  Procuring cylinders that do not meet the specifications will pose a serious safety risk to the handlers and to the public.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Regenia Goldsmith at regenia.m.goldsmith@nasa.gov and John Leppala at john.leppala@nasa.gov no later than 2:30 p.m. mountain time on August 30, 2023.  Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis.  A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf