NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH SINTEF APPLIED CHEMISTRY The Minerals Management Service (MMS) intends to enter into negotiations for a follow on contract with Sintef Applied Chemistry, N-7034 Trondheim, Norway to acquire the Sintef Oil-Spill Weathering Model (OWM) and all planned upgrades. Sintef will train the MMS staff in use of the OWM. They will analyze and add Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oils to the model library, and provide for MMS participation in Joint Industry Consortiums (JIC's) and develop datasets suitable for validation testing of the oil-weathering algorithms. MMS has determined that Sintef is uniquely qualified because they have established analytical procedures to add the Outer Continental Shelf oils to their OWM's oil library. They will make additional required model improvements and include their unique database of experimental spills, suitable for algorithm testing and validation. Therefore, only Sintef Applied Chemistry has the unique capabilities, knowledge, expertise and technical knowledge to successfully perform the MMS requirement. The proposed action for which MMS intents to solicit and negotiate a sole source procurement is under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The MMS believes that only one responsible source can provide the services that will satisfy the agency requirements. Sintef holds the specialized hardware, proprietary scientific model and proprietary information. This notice is not a request for competitive quotations but responses received on or before February 4, 1999 by 4:00 p.m. EST will be evaluated. A determination by the Contracting Officer not to compete this proposed action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determing whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Please E-mail comments/responses via E-mail to the Contracting Officer Betty.Estey@mms.gov and to the Program Manager at Richard.Prentki@mms.gov. "See Note 22". E-MAIL: Contracting Officer's email, Betty.Estey@mms.gov. Posted 01/07/99 (W-SN286125).

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