Notice of intent to sole-source - ABB, INC

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has published a Notice of Intent to Sole-Source contract to ABB, Inc. for the procurement of four ABB ACS5000 Converters and two Specialtrasfo Converter Transformers, along with all associated documented control devices and equipment. The agency intends to award this contract on a sole-source basis under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), citing that only one responsible source can satisfy the agency's requirements. The procurement will be conducted as a commercial item acquisition under FAR Part 12. This special notice was posted on March 17, 2026, and falls under the Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing industry category. The agency has determined that ABB, Inc. is the only source capable of providing the specified equipment to meet NASA/ARC's operational needs.

Interested organizations have the opportunity to challenge this sole-source determination by submitting their capabilities and qualifications electronically to Tina Jenkins at tina.jenkins@nasa.gov by 5:00 PM EST on April 1, 2026. The Government will evaluate all submitted responses solely to determine whether to conduct the acquisition on a competitive basis, though the final determination to proceed with sole-source or competitive contracting remains entirely at the Government's discretion. There are no specific set-asides or eligibility restrictions mentioned for interested contractors, meaning any qualified organization may submit capabilities for consideration. The submission should demonstrate the organization's ability to provide equivalent ACS5000 Converters and Specialtrasfo Converter Transformers with associated control devices and equipment. Additionally, the NASA Clause 1852.215-84 regarding the Ombudsman is applicable to this acquisition, and interested parties can reference the Procurement Ombudsman listing on NASA's official website for further assistance or to file a complaint.