Notice of Intent to Sole Source, Earth Pressure Cells

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center (ERDC), Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) has the regular, recurring need to procure hydraulic earth pressure cells (EPCs) to support ongoing experimentation over the next five years. To support these needs, the Government intends to award a Master Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with a five-year ordering period, to Geokon Inc. (Cage Code: 0L2L0), on a sole source basis. This is intended to allow streamlined purchase of the hydraulic earth pressure cells and direct in-house after sale technical support from the original manufacturer to support ongoing experimentation. Due to unforeseen technical issues with the EPCs, GSL requires direct in-house after sale technical support by phone and/or email from the original manufacturer. This technical support is necessary to ensure the researchers and scientists can troubleshoot and correct any issues, in a timely manner, while using the EPCs. The EPCs manufactured exclusively by Geokon Inc. is the only commercial product capable of meeting the governments requirement. There is only one known company, Geokon Inc., that is capable of manufacturing and providing the required EPCs and direct in-house after sale technical support. Geokon Inc. is a small business concern. The applicable North American Industrial Classification System Code (NAICS) code is 334513 (Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables) with a size standard of 750 employees. This notice of intent is for information purposes only.  

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals.  A solicitation will not be issued.  However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.  The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor’s ability to fulfill this requirement.  The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each. 

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.  A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.  Responses to this requirement may be submitted to Allison Hudson at Allison.B.Hudson@usace.army.mil AND Jennifer Hoben at Jennifer.Hoben@usace.army.mil.  The solicitation number shall be included in the subject line of the e-mail submission.  Responses must be received no later than 1:00PM CST 12 December 2023.