Sole Source Notification for the Purchase of five FLIR M18 Thermal Imaging Night Scopes

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Service's State Office in Lakewood, CO intends to purchase five FLIR Recon M18 InfraRed Thermal Imaging Scopes from FLIR Surveillance, Inc. of North Billerica, NJ.  The night scopes will be used for an ongoing project with the Colorado Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division (CDOT) to conduct biological surveys at 14 facilities across the state to document wildlife hazards at airfields.  High quality, military-grade, thermal optics are necessary to assess nocturnal wildlife species identification and activity on the airfields/heliports and the surrounding landscape.

FLIR is the only company that manufacturers and offers discounted demonstration models of military grade thermal monoculars with the features and specifications that meet our field work needs. The following combination of salient characteristics make the FLIR Recon M18 unique as the only item that will meet our needs:
1. Lightweight and portable
2. Integrated laser pointer for use with Night Vision equipment
3. Ability to simultaneously look through the viewfinder of the monocular, and a video output source
4. Ability to attach other extender lens to increase magnification
5. 640x480 Resolution
6. Min 2x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom
7. Minimum 3 hour battery life under 640x480 resolution
8. Must meet MIL-SPEC 810F environmental requirements

As a MIL-SPEC item, the distribution of these units is highly regulated. There are only a small handful of authorized distributors for these products. Two distributors and the manufacturer were solicited for quotes. The distributors were unable to offer competitive pricing as the manufacturer could offer demonstration units at a substantial discount.

A determination by the Government not to compete this intended purchase order based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Simplified procurement procedures per FAR 13 will be used as well as commercial item acquisition regulations per FAR 12. Any inquiries regarding this acquisition must be submitted by email to michael.j.chiodi@aphis.usda.gov by Monday, July 10, 2017, 12:30pm eastern time for consideration.