Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Catfish Pond Aerators

Notice of Intent: The USDA, ARS, SEA intends to award a sole source procurement to, Big John Water Movers, 7013 West Jefferson Road, Quinton, Alabama 35130 as they are the sole source for this type fish pond aerator pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C.253(c)(l ) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The award will be for 26 (twenty-six), I-horsepower floating paddlewheel-type electric catfish pond aerators. The aerators will be used in research to quantify the effect of oxygen supply on growth of hybrid catfish. This is expansion and continuation of on-going research in this project area. The aerators must be of the general design for electric paddlewheel aerators used under farm conditions in order for results to be applicable to Commercial
Conditions. Although the general design of paddlewheel aerators is somewhat standardized, aerators manufactured by different companies have unique features such as rotor length, paddle design, paddle arrangement, and gear reduction that affect oxygen transfer rate, even when powered by the same size motor. To ensure compatibility and consistency of proposed research with past research, we must use aerators with identical oxygen-transfer performance and the only way to ensure this is to use the same design (i.e., the same manufacturer) as used in past studies. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price Purchase Order on or about August 3, 2018 using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This Notice of lntent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:00 PM Central Time August 3, 2018. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via e-mail to the Contracting Officer at the following location:
Contracting Office Address:
James Porter
james.porter@ars.usda.gov
Agricultural Research Services
1001 Holleman Dr. E.
College Station, TX 77840
.