Intent to sole source Open-Air Testing

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole-source indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract to Kiple Acquisition Science Technology Logistics & Engineering Inc. (KASTLE). The contract is in support of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Defense (JPEO, BRND) and will have a five-year ordering period with a maximum ceiling of $9.6 million. The procurement will be conducted under the authority prescribed in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.504, specifically targeting chemical warfare agent and simulant testing services. The contract falls under NAICS code 541380 with a size standard of $19.0 million, and will be awarded to KASTLE, a company located in Forest Hill, Maryland.

Interested parties are invited to submit capability statements to jenna.z.jagroop.civ@army.mil by 3:00 p.m. EST on February 6, 2025, though this is not a formal request for proposals and no solicitation is currently available. The government has determined that KASTLE is the only source capable of providing the required chemical testing services, justifying the sole-source procurement approach. The testing will be conducted at Vojensky vyzkumny ustav, s.p. (VVU) facilities, indicating a specialized and unique requirement that limits competitive bidding. Potential contractors should carefully review the Special Notice and accompanying documentation to understand the specific technical and compliance requirements. While this is a sole-source award, the government is still providing an opportunity for other firms to demonstrate their capabilities or raise potential concerns about the proposed contract.