Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Load Frames and Load Cells

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, NH intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Instron, A Division of Illinois Tool Works upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.500(a).

ERDC-CRREL requires the procurement and installation of a 50kN dual column load frame system with necessary accessories (i.e., load cells, LVDTs, extensometers, etc.) to extend the capabilities of their Advanced Material Characterization Facility’s Instron Custom Model 5965 Dual Column Materials Testing System used for on-going and future research projects focused on ice adhesion of various materials and surface coatings.

Specifications:  The requested load frame system (which shall provide a greater force capacity for testing than CRREL’s current load frame system) must be fully interoperable with CRREL’s existing load frame accessories and software.  Both the existing load frame and this new load frame shall be used in parallel and interoperably to comprise the CRREL Low Temperature Mechanical Testing System.  Some key attributes required of the new system include:

• Capability of operation inside low temperature environmental chambers between -20°C to 40°C with maximum forces of 50 kilonewtons;
• Must be capable of interfacing with BlueHill® Universal testing software;
• Must be fully interoperability with existing Instron sensor accessories that comprise the analysis chain in use at CRREL;
• Must be fully interoperable with Interface 500N and 5kN load cells and Instron LVDTs and extensometers (strain gauges) currently in-use at CRREL;
• Features a software integrated camera with frame rates of at least 80 frames per second; 
• Possesses software that compensates for minor delays between the start of the load frame test and initiation of camera recording such that the initial timestamp of both datasets has been synchronized.

The full details regarding the requirements and specifications of the requested supplies and incidental services needed are outlined in the Request for Quote (RFQ)’s Section C, Description of Requirement (DOR).  

Instron was identified as the only vendor capable of offering products meeting the requisite specifications and interoperability requirements with CRREL’s existing Low Temperature Material Testing System and uniquely designed software; full interoperability. Critically, in order to be fully interoperable, the new load frame and load cells must be capable of interfacing with existing testing software and must be fully interoperable with Interface 500N and 5kN load cells and Instron linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) and extensometers (strain gauges) currently in-use at the CRREL facility. As such, Instron is the sole source authorized to fulfill the Government’s requirement.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519, which has a size standard of 600 employees.

This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest 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 in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy.

Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CST, 26 May 2023 to kim.d.roberson@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 offerors 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.

Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.