Intent to Award Sole Source: Fuel Investigation Services

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(d) and FAR 5.201, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy, Bulk Petroleum Supply Chain Services, Alongside Aircraft Refueling/Lab Testing Branch (FESDB) is posting this intent to award sole source notification. FESDB is considering award of a sole source fixed-price modification to Southwest Research Institute for Fuel Investigation Testing services in the following regions: locations in CONUS plus Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories, and Central and South America as well as locations in Asia and the Western Pacific (from Diego Garcia Atoll east to Japan) and Australia.

The anticipated period of performance is one (1) year (1 March 2022 through 28 February 2023). 

All interested, responsible sources may submit a capability statement in writing to jennifer.walsh@dla.mil which shall be considered by the agency.  Capability statements shall not exceed 5 pages and must include information sufficient to enable the Government to make a determination that an equivalent service exists which would meet the Government's needs as stated herein. Any information submitted in response to this notice is voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this notice. Responses to this notice must be submitted to jennifer.walsh@dla.mil by 3pm local Ft. Belvoir, VA time on February 11, 2022.

Contractor responsibilities include providing laboratories services located in the area of responsibility that is ISO 17025 certified; and capable of testing first and second-generation biofuels and petroleum, conducting detailed investigations and complete analysis of chemical properties of specific fuel samples and related products, and making recommendations for remediating quality problems. Fuel investigations and analysis should be conducted per applicable U.S. Government, Federal and commercial specifications/standards.

Products include:

Aviation turbine fuels

Gasolines

Middle distillates (Diesel Fuel, Marine Fuel, Kerosene, Fuel Oils)

Residual Fuel Oils

Lubricating Oils/Engine Oils

Additives (ex. Corrosion Inhibitor, Lubricity Improvers, Anti-static Additives, Antioxidants, metal Deactivators, Fuel System Icing Inhibitors, Detergents, Cetane, Improvers, Pour Point Depressants and Flow Improvers)

Biofuels, Synthetic Fuels, Blends of petroleum fuel and biofuel/synthetic at different ratios

In addition, the laboratory shall be capable of performing and providing qualitative and quantitative compositional analysis of fuels and related material to include but not limited to:

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Thin layer liquid Chromatography

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Atomic Absorption Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

X-Ray Spectroscopy/X-Ray Diffraction

Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Test

Ellipsometric Tube Rater

Infrared Spectroscopy

UV-Visible Spectroscopy

Scanning Electronic Microscope

Inductively Coupled Plasma –Mass Spectrometry

Microbial Testing and Hazardous Materials analysis per the Environmental Protection Agency's SW-846: Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste.  

The contractor must also be able to provide shipment of samples from the origin of the issue (DLA facility, Defense Fuel Supply Point (DFSP), etc) to laboratory facilities and shall be the responsibility of the contractor.

Task orders maybe issued throughout the period of performance and shall require proposals, interim and final reports. These detailed reports will outline the problem, a proposed corrective action, timeline for work completion and the outcome of laboratory investigations.