Portable optical particle spectrometers (pops)

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, CHEMICAL SCIENCES LABORATORY (CSL) INTENDS TO NEGOTATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH HANDIX SCIENTIFIC OUT OF BOULDER, CO FOR PORTABLE OPTICAL PARTICLE SPECTROMETERS (POPS) .

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT HANDIX SCIENTIFIC IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF THE PORTABLE OPTICAL PARTICLE SPECTROMETERS (POPS). NOAA CSL REQUIRES 24 SMALL OPTICAL PARTICLE COUNTERS (OPCs) FOR USE IN A FIELD RESEARCH PROJECT. THE REQUIRED OPCs ARE  PORTABLE OPTICAL PARTICLE SPECTROMETERS (POPS) THAT WERE DEVELOPED IN THE CSL  AND ARE NEEDED FOR A PROJECT CONDUCTING INCREASED FREQUENCY OF BALLOON SONDE MEASUREMENTS OF AEROSOL VERTICAL PROFILES TO STUDY VARIABILITY IN STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOL LOADING AND PROPERTIES. CSL REQUIRES UNITS THAT ARE IDENTICAL TO THE SENSORS THAT THEY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND ARE CURRENTLY USING THAT HAVE THE SIZE, WEIGHT, POWER AND ANALYTICAL QUALITIES THAT MEET THE NEEDS FOR MULTIPLE PROJECTS. CSL HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE OPERATION OF THESE SENSORS AND HAVE VALIDATED THEIR PERFORMANCE FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS. WITHOUT THE POPS FROM HANDIX, CSL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT.

HANDIX SCIENTIFIC IS THE SOLE COMMERCIAL PRODUCER OF THE REQUIRED POPS INSTRUMENTS.

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.