APPLIED RESEARCH ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT (ARED) This announcement is subsequent to the sources sought announcment, reference (W-112 SN065000), issued on 22 April 1997. The U. S. Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) intends to negotiate and award to the University of Texas at Austin, P.O. Box 8029, Austin, TX 78713, a contract for Applied Research Engineering and Development (ARED). The contract will contain a base year of performance with four one year options to continue research and development of highly specialized suites of test and evaluation equipment begun under the army's Fire Support Automated Test System (FSATS) program. Enhanced characteristics of the system include near-real time collection, transmission, reduction and statistical analysis of data; simulation of non-present tactical devices; simultaneous collection of data at separate geographical locations; flexibility in data base accessibility; training and test support; ease in setting up test scenarios and be compatible with the Army's new fire support C4Isystems, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), operational facilities (OPFACs), and TACFIRE system. Award of an Indefinite Quantity Contract is contemplated for March 1999 pursuant to the justification and authorization which will cite the University of Texas (UT) at Austin as a unique source in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (1). UT developed FSATS and is the only contractor with the requisite knowledge and force in place to meet agency needs. Award to any other source would result in a substantial duplication of cost to become technically proficient and cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Army's requirements. See numbered Note 22. POC: Ms. Ginger Rosacia, Contract Specialist, (407)380-4065; Mr. Ray Fegal, Contracting Officer, (407)380-4372. E-MAIL: Ms. Ginger Rosacia, ginger_rosacia@stricom.army.mil. Posted 01/05/99 (W-SN285200).

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