Inactive

FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ANNOUNCEMENT: SPECIAL NOTICE CLASSIFICATION CODE: R SUBJECT: Purchase of Open Robotics, Inc. software SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB735120-19-00689 CONTACT POINTS: BRIAN JAMIESON, Contracts Sp... FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ANNOUNCEMENT: SPECIAL NOTICE CLASSIFICATION CODE: R SUBJECT: Purchase of Open Robotics, Inc. software SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB735120-19-00689 CONTACT POINTS: BRIAN JAMIESON, Contracts Specialist (301) 975-8276; KEITH BUBAR, Contracting Officer (301) 975-8329 DESCRIPTION: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with Open Robotics for measurement software. ***** Sole source determination is based on the following: Division 735 has a STRS research project whose objective is to deliver robot agility performance metrics, information models, test methods and protocols, validated using a combined virtual and real testing environment, that will enable manufacturers to easily and rapidly reconfigure and re-task robot systems in assembly operations. As part of this project, Division 735 has initiated the International Agile Robotics for Industrial Automation Competition (ARIAC). The first competition was held in 2017 and the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) was selected through an open acquisition process to support this competition. This acquisition focuses on modifying and extending the existing software infrastructure to address lessons learned in the second (2018) competition. Through the market research, OSRF was identified as the only organization with the required Gazebo experience and familiarity with ARIAC to successfully complete the deliverables in the statement of work to hold the ARIAC competition in May 2019. Not only are they the world leader in running simulation-based robotics competition, as indicated by the significant experience they have in this area by working with DARPA and others, but they are the only ones that have a deep understanding of the software and simulation environment that was used in the previous competition, since they built the system. If OSRF was not chosen for this contract, a new organization would need to learn the existing simulation infrastructure and software from scratch, which would likely cause the ARIAC 2019 competition to be delayed by at least six months. *****The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541511 Custom Computer Programming Services. ****** A determination by the Government whether to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. *****Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so 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 Brian Jamieson at Brian.Jamieson@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at Brian.Jamieson@nist.gov no later than February 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.