MTS - Shake Table Load Frame

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center – Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL), in Champaign, IL has a requirement for an upgraded controller system for the Triaxial Earthquakeand Shock Simulator (TESS), hydraulic load frames.  The total controller system shall include a servo-controller (the MTS FlexTest 40), a hydraulic service manifold, and associated cables and accessories for operation to include computer and monitors. The requirement also includes incidental installation, calibration, and user training services. 

ERDC-CERL intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to MTS Systems Corporation in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

Market research indicates that MTS Systems Corporation is the only source for this requirement because the TESS is a one-of-a-kind, turnkey engineered system that MTS manufactured over 30 years ago.  The system is integrated with MTS hardware and software that any new components must maintain capability with, so it is imperative we obtain the upgraded materials from MTS.  The current controller station is so old that it is no longer supported for service by MTS and does not operate well with other newer components of the system.  Utilizing any other source would require additional purchases of new equipment and significant effort toward recalibration of testing standards.  In addition, MTS will only provide service support on the system as a whole if it contains only components which they have installed. 

This is not a small business set aside. 

This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will be in any way alter the Government’s acquisition strategy.

Please provide responses to this notice no later than the Response time listed above in this notice, to:

CERL-CT_QUOTES@usace.army.mil

Telephone responses will not be accepted.

Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offers list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation.  A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon 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.