Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Gravel Loading of Ice
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. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a sole source contract to FS&G Aggregate for Gravel Loading of Ice in Fairbanks, AK. This requirement supports data collection for a terrestrial ice project during the 2026 winter season. Responses from interested parties are due by March 3, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contractor will perform up to three lake ice loading iterations throughout the 2026 winter season as the ice progressively thickens. Tests will occur at approximate ice thicknesses ranging from 4 inches to 30 inches. Each iteration will consist of one impact strength, one elastic loading (dynamic), and one visco-elastic loading (stationary) test. The contractor is responsible for providing all necessary machinery, gravel, and facilities to perform the ice loading, with CRREL personnel on-site for measurements.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Notice of Intent to Sole Source (Presolicitation)
- Intended Awardee: FS&G Aggregate
- Set-Aside: None (Sole Source)
- Response Due: March 3, 2026, 12:00 PM CST
- Published: February 10, 2026
- Place of Performance: Fairbanks, AK
Justification for Sole Source
The sole source award to FS&G Aggregate is justified because they previously supplied and placed gravel for the initial phase of ice load testing during the 2024 winter season at their Fairbanks facility. Continuation of testing requires identical site characteristics, including lake geometry, water depth, gravel material, and placement methodology, to ensure the technical validity, comparability, and integrity of data collected across multiple seasons. Using a different contractor or an alternate location would introduce uncontrolled variables, invalidate direct comparison with previously collected data, and require replication of prior testing at additional cost and schedule impact. FS&G Aggregate is deemed the only responsible source capable of providing access to the established test site and replicating the exact conditions.
Action Items
This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties who believe they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to Latosha.N.Rodgers@usace.army.mil by the specified due date. All submissions will be considered, but there is no guarantee they will alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Vendors must be actively registered in SAM to be eligible for award.