Purchase of Storage Lox Tank for the HC-27J Aircraft

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO SOLE SOURCE This Special Notice constitutes the only solicitation. A written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number 70Z03823QW0000023 is issued as a Special Notice of Intent to Award to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Essex Industries Inc. (Cage Code 19062), 8007 Chibbis Drive St. Louis, MO 63123, for the purchase of two (2) Storage Lox Tanks to support the HC-27J Aircraft. Vendors may quote on the following: Part Number               Nomenclature                      NSN                                          QTY50C-0014-5                Storage Lox Tank                 3655-01-456-0123                      2At the time of award, the USCG intends to place an order for the purchase of two (2) item(s).  IAW Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.217-6 the USCG may require two (2) additional items for a maximum quantity of four (4) items at the same price as the original order, for up to three hundred and sixty-five (365) days

after the initial award date. **Please note that if the USCG chooses to exercise any optional quantity modifications, such modifications will be issued unilaterally to the contractor.  Incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-08, effective Oct 28, 2022. The applicable North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) Code is 336412.  The small business size standard is 1,500 employees. The following attachments apply to this solicitation: Attachment A – Terms and Conditions Attachment B – Redacted Justification for Other Than Full and Open CompetitionIt is anticipated that a Sole Source Purchase Order will be awarded as a result of this notice pending the availability of funds. It is the Government’s belief that Essex Industries only has the required proprietary technical and engineering data to provide the purchase of two (2) Storage Lox Tanks. Concerns having the expertise and required capabilities to provide these parts are invited to submit complete information discussing the same within ten (10) calendar days from this posting. Vendors who do not meet the capability requirement will not be considered. The notice of intent will not be extended or the award delayed for a vendor to submit their data for capability determination or for registration in beta.SAM.gov. The closing date for this intent to award notice is December 2, 2022 at 4:00 pm ET. Anticipated award date is on or about December 06, 2022. Point of contact for this intent to award notice is Allison.T.Meads@uscg.mil. Please indicate 70Z03823QW0000023 in the subject line. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTSUnited States Coast Guard Ombudsman ProgramIt is the policy of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to issue solicitations and make contract awards in a fair and timely manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to investigate agency protest issues and resolve them without expensive and time- consuming litigation. OPAP is an independent reviewing authority that is empowered to grant a prevailing protester essentially the same relief as the Government Accountability Office (GAO).Interested parties are encouraged to seek resolution of their concerns within the USCG as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forum rather than filing a protest with the GAO or some external forum. Interested parties may seek resolution of their concerns informally or opt to file a formal agency protest with the Contracting Officer or Ombudsman.Informal Forum with the Ombudsman. Interested parties who believe a specific USCG procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable Contracting Officer. If the Contracting Officer is unable to satisfy their concerns, interested parties are encouraged to contact the U.S. Coast Guard Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance.  Use of an informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a protest with the agency or other forum. In order to ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable).Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman. Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open and frank discussions. If the protester’s concerns are unresolved, an Independent Review is available by the Ombudsman.  The protester may file a formal agency protest to either the Contracting Officer or as an alternative to that, the Ombudsman under the OPAP program.Contract award or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless contract award or performance is justified, in writing, for urgent and compelling reasons or is determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government.  The agency’s goal is to resolve protests in less than 35 calendar days from the date of filing. Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.103(d) (2). If the protester fails to submit the required information, resolution of the protest may be delayed or the protest may be dismissed.  To be timely protests must be filed within the period specified in FAR 33.103(e).  Formal protests filed under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to OPAP@uscg.mil and the Contracting Officer or by hand delivery to the Contracting Officer.Election of Forum. After an interested party protests a Coast Guard procurement to the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman, and while the protest is pending, the protester agrees not to file a protest with the GAO or other external forum. If the protest is filed with an external forum, the agency protest will be dismissed.