NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE-SOURCE
Notice ID N68520-26-SIMACQ-JC00000-0250, a request for quotation, is being conducted under the authority of RFO FAR 6.103-1 as the requirement is estimated at $36,021.88. The Government intends to award this sole-source contract to McNaughton-McKay SouthEast, Inc. (CAGE 0CFH4), doing business as McNaughton-McKay Electric, as no other source has the necessary exclusive licensing and distribution rights within the geographic territory to satisfy this requirement.
Justification for Sole Source:
- Exclusive Licensing & Territory Rights: Rockwell Automation maintains strict proprietary control over the distribution and servicing of its technology. Per the manufacturer's official determination letter dated June 17, 2026, McNaughton-McKay Electric is the exclusive appointed distributor authorized to sell Allen-Bradley products and Rockwell Automation services within the Cherry Point, NC geographic territory.
- Proprietary Control: The command's critical environmental infrastructure control systems are designed, programmed, and built exclusively on a proprietary Allen-Bradley hardware and software architecture (owned solely by Rockwell Automation). The underlying control logic, firmware, and operational interfaces are protected by intellectual property, patent, and copyright laws. No other manufacturer or distributor possesses the proprietary source code or technical data packages required to interface with or modify this system.
- Technical Non-Feasibility of Alternatives: Procurement from any unauthorized, third-party source would violate proprietary licensing agreements, void factory warranties, and deny the command access to critical, proprietary OEM software updates and certified technical support. Integrating non-proprietary systems would require complete, cost-prohibitive replacement of the entire command-wide control network and cause unacceptable operational downtime.
Description of the Requirement:
The Department of the Navy, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), Cherry Point, NC, intends to award a sole-source purchase order for the renewal of Rockwell Automation Factory Talk / RSLinx (TechConnect) / Studio 5000 Lite & Studio 5000 RSNetworx Software maintenance and support coverage. This renewal ensures uninterrupted operational readiness, system security patches, and critical technical support for the installed automation infrastructure.
The Period of Performance (PoP) ends on 30 August 2026. This acquisition is a total set-aside for small business concerns and will receive a DPAS rating of DO-C9.
Scope of Work:
The contractor shall provide TechConnect Support Coverage / Product Support level for Rockwell Automation hardware and embedded software. The contract includes the following covered items and support levels:
- HMI Software Support (Product: 9800-DC8HMICOM): Coverage for up to eight Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software licenses including installation assistance, scripting guidance, version upgrades, and troubleshooting.
- Automation Control Support (Product: 9800-DC8AUTOC): Technical support for 11–25 total automation control devices (including PLCs, I/O modules, and communication adapters) with firmware updates, hardware diagnostics, and configuration verification.
- Motion Control Support (Product: 9800-DC8MMA): Coverage for 1–5 motion control devices including commissioning assistance, tuning recommendations, and migration advice.
- Legacy Hardware Support (Product: 9800-DC8LEHDWA): Support for 1–5 legacy hardware devices with commissioning, migration recommendations, and spare-parts identification.
- Low-Voltage AC Drives Support (Products: 9800-DC8ABDRIVLHPA, 9800-DC8ABDRIVMHPA, 9800-DC8ABDRIVHHPA): Product support for 1–4 low-voltage AC drives categorized by low, medium, or high horsepower, including parameter tuning, startup guidance, thermal management, and performance optimization.
- Support Deliverables:
- Self-Assist Support Elements: Access to the Welcome Kit, Digital Assist Library, Software Maintenance I (update downloads), and the Online Support Centre.
- Standard Technical Support: Troubleshooting and configuring software as needed, Standard product and programming software, and Software Maintenance II (updated media and emergency software replacement).
- Software updates: Delivery of patches, minor updates, and major upgrades emailed to designated command technical points of contact.
INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERESTED SOURCES
This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. However, in accordance with RFO FAR 6.103(d) any responsible source that believes it can meet this requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. To be considered, capability statements must clearly demonstrate:
- Capability to meet the strict delivery and performance schedule ending 30 August 2026.
- Written verification and legally binding documentation proving explicit authorization, licensing, or certification from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Rockwell Automation, demonstrating the source's legal right and technical capability.
All responses must be received in writing no later than 27 August 2026 at 12:00 PM EST and must be submitted via email to the Contracting Point of Contact listed below. A determination by the Government not to compete 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 competitive procurement.
