20 -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH SHEPARD-PATTERSON & ASSOC., INC. FOR RRF SPARE PARTS PROCUREMENT The Maritime Administration (MARAD) intends to negotiate and award a sole source 5-year contract extension (5-1 year option periods) to Shepard-Patterson & Associates, Inc. of Broomall, Pennsylvania under contract DTMA91-97-C-00005, currently expiring July 27, 2000. This extension is required to continue the current Ready Reserve Fleet (RRF) Spare Parts Procurement contract concurrently with MARAD_s Logistics Support Contract. Shepard-Patterson is also MARAD_s current contractor for Logistics Support for the RRF program. The Logistics Support contract has a current expiration date of March 27, 2001 with 4 additional 1-year option periods to be exercised. MARAD_s Division of Logistics Support has begun a multi-year system modernization program that involves upgrading the agency_s logistics management information system into modern technology and programs in the Window_s environment. Due to the interdependent nature of the logistics data, introducing another logistics system into the overall logistics process in the middle of this effort would jeopardize successful progress in the modernization program and introduce an unacceptable risk adversely impacting the readiness of RRF ships. Authority for this sole source extension is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(3), Industrial mobilization, engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is available. However, all proposals received within forty-five days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=S&ProjID=Reference-Number-9700005-4-8&LocID=29. E-MAIL: Erica Williams, erica.williams@marad.dot.gov. Posted 04/04/00 (D-SN441266).

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