Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Lutron Platinum Technology Support Plan

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (hereafter referred to as The Center), an agency of the U.S. Government and a living Presidential memorial, intends to award a sole source contract to Lutron Services Co., Inc. under the authority of 41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 – Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

The acquisition will provide preventive and corrective maintenance services for the Center’s existing Lutron computerized lighting control system, which is critical to the facility’s daily operations. Services will include:

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  • System diagnostics, repairs, and replacements as required
  
  
  • Installation of proprietary software and firmware updates
  
  
  • Remote and on-site technical support from Lutron-certified engineers
  
  
  • Compliance verification with all manufacturer specifications to ensure uninterrupted operations
  
  
  
  

Background Information and Purpose

The Center is an agency of the U.S. Government and a living Presidential memorial. The Center fulfills its obligation as a living memorial to the late President through the presentation of performing arts programming and through education activities both in the District of Columbia and around the country. The largest cultural facility of its kind, itis the nation's busiest arts facility presenting more than 2,000 performances each year. It currently consists of one building encompassing approximately 1,500,000 square feet of usable floor space and is situated on 17 acres of land overlooking the Potomac River. A 65,000 square foot addition to the facility called the REACH was added to the Federal Jurisdiction in September 2019.

The Center houses nine theaters, production support areas, two public restaurants, nine function/special event rooms, five public galleries/halls/foyers, approximately 50,000 square feet of administrative offices and a large parking facility. It attracts over three million visitors annually. The facility operates 365 days per year and support systems in the building often operating at capacity more than 14 hours per day.

The site of The Center is bounded by:

• North: The South curbs of New Hampshire Avenue and F Street


• East: The Western most retaining walls and curbs of the Inner Loop Freeway


• South: The Northernmost retaining walls and curbs of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge


• West: The Easternmost retaining walls and curbs of the Rock Creek Parkway

To perform its function as the presidential monument for the performing arts, the center operates a large, computerized lighting system. The central functions are to provide Architectural lighting on the interior and exterior of the building and to the site lighting on the campus. The Center utilizes a Virtual Machine (VM) for the automated building control of the Lutron system.

The Center requires maintenance services for Lutron computerized lighting system to ensure that the system software, firmware, and hardware components are operating in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Basis for Sole Source

It has been determined that Lutron Services Co., Inc. is the only vendor capable of fulfilling this requirement. The rationale is as follows:

1. Lutron Services Co., Inc. maintains exclusive, proprietary knowledge of the hardware, firmware, and software required to maintain the Kennedy Center’s system;


2. Firmware and software updates for the system can only be installed by Lutron Services Co., Inc. No third-party resellers or contractors are authorized to provide these services;


3. Utilizing any unauthorized vendor would risk voiding ;system warranties, compromise system performance, and potentially result in significant disruptions to the Center’s programming and public safety obligations

Accordingly, award of this contract to any vendor other than Lutron Services Co., Inc. would not meet the agency’s operational need.

General

The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 238210-Electrician Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors. The small business size standard is $19M.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 27, 2025, will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon response of this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Questions

Interested parties that believe that they could satisfy the requirements listed above for the Center may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to: federalproposals@kennedy-center.org and cc: to Angela Thomas at athomas@kennedy-center.org with the SUBJ: 33310525R0014. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at federalproposals@kennedy-center.org with a cc: to athomas@kennedy-center.org no later than the aforementioned due date.