Intent to Sole Source -Integration of Maritime Electronics in ALPV

Montana State University Procurement & Contract Services is pursuing a sole source procurement for the integration of maritime electronics in an Autonomous Low Profile Vessel (ALPV) engineering sample for the US Marine Corps. The primary objective is to develop a new ALPV sample that incorporates lessons learned from previous iterations, with specific requirements for the selected vendor. Mandatory qualifications include prior knowledge of existing Marine Corps ALPV engineering samples, vendor location within 50 miles of the build site in Tracy's Landing, MD, ability to provide equipment warranty, and demonstrated expertise in marine electrical equipment. The solicitation (MSU-SolSour-2025-0678) was posted on January 13, 2025, with a closing date of January 27, 2025, at 2:00 PM MST. Interested vendors who believe they can provide equivalent services must submit written comments through the eMACS procurement system by the specified deadline. The procurement will utilize commodity codes 5010 (Transportation Goods & Services - Electrical Machinery & Instruments) and 5104 (Vehicles - Boats/Motors). Project contact is Linda Trimble, who can be reached at linda.trimble@montana.edu.

The procurement appears to be a non-restricted solicitation without specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Marine Technical Services is the intended sole source vendor for this project, with the university reserving the right to proceed with the sole source award or issue a competitive solicitation based on alternative vendor submissions. No specific budget range or award value was disclosed in the available documentation. The project involves developing an engineering sample, suggesting a research and development focus with potential future military applications. The payment terms are specified as Net 30 with 0% discount, indicating standard government procurement payment protocols. While specific integration requirements are not fully detailed, the procurement implies a complex technical project involving maritime electronic systems and autonomous vessel technology. The university maintains discretionary power to determine the most appropriate procurement method based on vendor responses and market capabilities.