Notice of Intent to Sole Source PowerDuo Steering Robot

This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Commercial Items. The ACC-APG Tenant Contracting Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD intends to award a Firm-Fixed Price sole source supply/service contract to, AB Dynamics, INC Cage Code: 8FMB5.

The objective of this contract is the acquisition and shipment of of a of a steering robot that is used for control of vehicle steering during specific automotive performance tests at U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center. 

Contract Specialist researched the above confirming limited capabilities of Contractors that are able to provide the essential steering robot that is used for control of vehicle steering during specific automotive performance tests. Additional, research provides that the AB Dynamics manufactures many of the preexisting steering and pedal robots. The new procurement can be combined into an integrated robotic driving system. The model meets ATC’s requirements. The SR150-PowerDuo Steering Robot is capable of meeting the Steering torque force and rotational velocity requirements for heavy vehicle steering systems.
• Historically, AB Dynamics has been able to provide essential tools to ATC as required with acceptable performance. A Google search identified two potential sources, AB Dynamics identified above and VEHICO who is a German company and not registered in SAM. The second potential Contractor is S-E-A Limited, however the product SEA provides only goes up to 40 Nm the current systems operate at 60Nm. Furthermore, the SEA product will not integrate with currently-owned ABD pedal robots, soft car target mover, pedestrian target movers, or other steering robots for synchronized testing.
• A GSA search discovered zero matches.
• Further research identified that AB Dynamics a certified small business has this item available commercially however is not specifically engineered for ATC therefore is not proprietary. The most recent contract awarded for a steering Robot was W91ZLK-16-P-0216 awarded 21 August 2016 in the amount of $210,772.76 to Anger Associates, INC, a SAM search revealed no longer a registered Entity.

Therefore, it is in the Governments best interest to award sole source to small business AB Dynamics. SAM confirmed AB Dynamics is registered as a small business under NAICS code 334515 with an active registration through 14 April 2023.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacture. Posting date of this requirement is 7 September 2022. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement no later than 15 September 2022. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition will be advantageous to the Government.
This is not a Request for Quote. This is a written notice to inform the public of the Government's intent to award on a sole source basis the required services.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted to:
Robert.j.rogers41.civ@army.mil. NLT 13 September 2022, 1201PM . Telephonic inquiries will not be considered.