Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) seeks to purchase a large volume of seals to go between the eye-bolt on a boat and the boat trailer to document that a boat was inspected for the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) program. When the seals are applied to trailered watercraft they prevent a boat from being launched into a body of water unless the seal is broken. This helps boat inspectors at all staffed lakes to identify if a boat has been inspected and is free of any invasive species. It also serves as a caution flag to inspectors for all boats that have previously been in ANS positive water bodies. The seals allow inspectors to verify where a boat has been (if it arrives with an intact seal) and if it has been properly inspected. The seals must be tamper-evident, self-locking plastic, and the design of the seal will ensure quick, easy insertion of wire without the use of tools. The design of the seal will ensure an audible (click) and visible signal (plunger fully inserted) that the seal has been permanently locked. For tracking purposes, the seals must have the authorized location name and a unique serial number with a minimum of 7 digits embossed on or printed in weather resistant lettering. The seals must also be a solid green color. The seals will use wire supplied on spools in order to tailor each application of wire to the individual boat/trailer combination. Through market research, CPW has come to the conclusion that the PSW97 Plastic Security Seals are the best seal on the market to serve CPW’s needs. In addition, American Casting provides wire spools that are a unique specification. Based on CPW research, American Casting is the only company that can provide the specific specifications of wire needed for this program. The wire configuration is designed for maximum performance with the PSW97 security seal. The wire is 4 strand, 31 gauge galvanized wire provided on 1000’ spools. Sole Source Justification; The PSW97 tamper proof seal is designed and manufactured by American Casting and Manufacturing Corporation under US Patent 6,082,789. After requesting bids in 2009 for tamper-proof seals for the ANS program, CPW came to the conclusion that American Casting Manufacturing Corporation was the only company that could meet the specification requirements for the program. Specifically, American Casting Manufacturing is the only company that offers the PSW97 Plastic Security Wire Seal or equivalent product. Since then, American Casting has met the high-volume needs of the ANS program by providing this product, which continues to meet the required specifications of the program. In addition, continued market research has confirmed that no newly emerged vendors have been able to produce a seal that meets all of CPW’s specifications. Purchasing the PSW97 is essential for creating continuity between CPW and neighboring government agencies for their ANS programs. The PSW97 is exclusively used by several in-state agencies, specifically National Park Service, Larimer County, City of Boulder, City of Westminster, City of Lakewood and City of Aurora. In addition, they are also used by several surrounding states, including Idaho, New Mexico and Utah. They are also utilized at several private marinas in Colorado. Having the same product across these agencies allows CPW to help standardize the seal procedure for all agencies and ensure that CPW seals will be accepted when boats are entering bodies of water managed by other agencies and states.
