Opportunity: Notice of Intent to Sole Source Southwest Research

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Part 6.302-1, the US Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) for the purpose of validating NETL developed advanced sensor systems for monitoring corrosion, temperature, strain, vibration, pressure, and humidity of the natural gas pipeline under the Natural Gas Infrastructure Field Work Plan. Pilot-scale and full-scale field test are required to validate these sensor technologies. This is considered a sole source to SwRI because, to the best of NETL’s knowledge, based on market research conducted SwRI’s Multiphase Flow Facility (MFF) was identified as the only facility that can meets NETL’s requirements and specifications of pipe conditions. The MFF is a closed-loop, recirculating methane gas and multiphase flow facility that can be used for simulated pipeline and corrosive conditions. SwRI’s test facility can reach the required in-pipe composition, high-pressure, and flow rate, while allowing installation of the optical fiber sensors inside and outside of the pipeline. Moreover, the developed fiber sensors at NETL require various pressure levels (from 100 to 1000 psi) of both humid N2 and methane to validate. The pipeline facility also provides the required temperature variations from ambient temperature to an increase of 9 oF (5 oC) for fiber optic sensor temperature sensing. NETL’s fiber optic sensors need to be validated for pipeline leak sensing at the field test conditions. SwRI’s test facility is capable of delivering rapid depressurization of the nitrogen gas purge to simulate gas leaks. No known potential alternate facilities exist which could satisfy NETL's requirement. This announcement constitutes the only synopsis for this requirement; and is issued for notification purposes only. This notice of intent is not a request for quote/proposal. Any interested party that believes it is capable of meeting the NETL requirement described herein may identify themselves and must provide evidence of their capability to fulfill the requirement being requested by 5:30PM ET on July 27, 2022. Responses must be submitted in writing to David.Lahey@netl.doe.gov no later than the time and date noted above. Telephone responses and requests will not be accepted. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.