*******PLEASE CONTACT DENECE NORRIS FOR QUOTE OR TECHNICAL CONCERNS. CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN THE BODY OF THIS SOLICITATION******
NASA/MSFC has a requirement for (1) Ea. of an Edison Welding Institute(EWI) Membership Fee & Friction Stir Welding(FSW) License with a Period of Performance from 10/01/2007 thru 09/30/08.
NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Edison Welding Institute, Inc. on a sole source basis. Competition is impractical for the following reasons:
1. The EWI is a non-profit, membership-based organization that provides metals joining expertise in the area of welding process selection, optimization, troubleshooting, and research. The EWI is the largest industrial consortium dedicated to welding in the United States with an estimated $9.0 Million annual applied research program dedicated to metals joining procedures and process development, which makes it the only source with the resources to address critical welding issues. There are no other organizations in the U. S. which offer these services.
2. Membership in the EWI will enable NASA personnel to have direct access to a broad array of researchers and analysts with expertise in the welding of aerospace materials. This expertise has been a direct benefit in the realm of NASA welding activities including, but not limited to: resolution of weld cracking in the Super Lightweight External Tank Program, development of high powered ultrasonics, the development of the friction stir weld process, and, providing other welding support services to NASA and aerospace contractors. In order for NASA to have access to this, it must pay EWI a membership fee directly. Membership is not available from any other source. .
3. The EWI’s sister organization, The Welding Institute, Cambridge, U.K., holds all intellectual property rights to the friction stir welding process. No other entity, worldwide, offers a similar welding process. NASA is developing the FSW process for NASA programs. In order for NASA to use this process, it must obtain a license directly from EWI. The license is not available from any other source.
The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on 1/22/2008. Such capabilities/qualifications 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 compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.
Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.
All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.
An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B".
Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
