Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. Vendor: Meridian Rapid Defense Group. The primary reason for a sole source is the need for interoperability. The region requires interoperability to maximize effectiveness in pooling resources to react to larger threats. No other manufacturer makes AVBs that are interchangeable with our existing inventory manufactured by Meridian Rapid Defense. Multiple AVBs are often connected to form a wider barrier to vehicular traffic. This can only be done with AVBs from the same manufacturer. Not only are they not designed for interoperability, but they are not safety tested for interoperability. In additional, it is impractical and cost prohibitive to use AVBs from a different manufacturer. There is a limited amount of personnel to operate the equipment. Disparate equipment would result in additional trainings that would put a strain on the agencies as well as operationally put limits on the use of the barriers due to the barriers not being interchangeable.