Lockheed Martin Aircraft Weight and Balance System

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS (OMAO), AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS CENTER (AOC) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN OUT OF FORT WORTH, TX TO PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF AN UPGRADE TO THE CURRENT AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE SYSTEM (AWBS).

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT LOCKHEED MARTIN IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF THE LOCKHEED MARTIN AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE SYSTEM.

LOCKHEED MARTIN AWBS IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A METHOD OF DETERMINING THE EMPTY WEIGHT AND EMPTY WEIGHT CENTER OF GRAVITY OF AN AIRCRAFT TO FURNISH THE FLIGHT CREW WITH INFORMATION ON LOADING AND OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENSURE ITS WEIGHT IS WITHIN THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY IS WITHIN THE ALLOWABLE RANGE.

LOCKHEED MARTIN IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF THE LOCKHEED MARTIN AWBS SYSTEM. AOC CURRENTLY USES THE LOCKHEED MARTIN AWBS PROGRAM, VERSION 10, TO MANAGE THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE FOR THE FLEET OF AIRCRAFT AT AOC. THE AWBS PROGRAM HAS THE HISTORY OF AOC AIRCRAFT, THE COMPLETE INVENTORY OF ITEMS ON EACH AIRCRAFT, AND THE DATA THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO VERSION 11.2 WHEN UPGRADED. THE PROGRAM IS APPROVED FOR USE ON NOAA SERVERS, IS COMPATIBLE WITH AOC COMPUTERS, AND ALL USERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE APPLICATION.

OTHER VENDORS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER PREVIOUS DATA, SERVERS WOULD NEED TO BE APPROVED BY NOAA, IT MAY TAKE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT TO INCORPORATE A NEW SYSTEM, AS WELL AS USERS WOULD NEED TO BE PROVIDED TRAINING.

MARKET RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED FOR AN LOCKHEED MARTIN AWBS SYSTEM. LOCKHEED MARTIN IS THE ONLY PROVIDER WITH NATIONAL COVERAGE AND HAS NO AUTHORIZED PARTNERS/RESELLERS.

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION 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 CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.