NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of Acquisition Management (OAM), Shared Services Procurement Office (SSPO), has issued a Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract to CRU International Ltd. (CRU). This contract is for Global Steel and Aluminum Monitoring services on behalf of the International Trade Administration (ITA), Office of Enforcement and Compliance (E&C). The intent is to award a purchase order with a 12-month base period.
Purpose & Scope
The ITA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) requires immediate access to comprehensive global steel and aluminum market data. This includes smelter-level production, country-level production and capacity, consumption, utilization rates, and current/historical pricing data. E&C needs weekly and monthly pricing analyses, short-term market developments, and extensive reports covering various inputs (e.g., scrap, iron ore, met coke) and finished products (e.g., hot rolled sheet, rebar, beams). The data must include quarterly forecasts out two years and annual forecasts out five years. CRU's specific databases required are Aluminum Premium, Steel Metallics Classic, Steelmaking Raw Materials Classic, and Steel Premium.
Contract Details
- Type: Sole Source Purchase Order
- Authority: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) 12.102(a) and 41 U.S.C. 1901, permitting sole-source awards when only one source is reasonably available.
- Duration: 12-month base period
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Product/Service Code: R405 (Operations Research And Quantitative Analysis Services)
- Place of Performance: Washington, D.C.
Key Dates
- Published Date: May 14, 2026
- Response Date: May 29, 2026 (Deadline for interested parties to submit capabilities to challenge the sole source)
Contact Information
- Primary: Alicia Brister (abrister@doc.gov)
- Secondary: Jameka Anderson (janderson1@doc.gov)
Additional Notes
This is a notice of intent, not a request for competitive proposals. Any interested party who believes they can meet the stated requirements and provide the necessary Global Steel and Aluminum Monitoring services to the U.S. Department of Commerce should submit a capabilities statement by the response date.