Notice_of_Intent_Crossbeam_Maintenance.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: 75N92018Q0051 Solicitation Type: Sole Source (Non-Competitive) Title: Zeiss Crossbeam 540 Maintenance Services NAICS / Size Standard: 811219 / $20.5M

Introduction

This is a pre-solicitation non-competitive (notice of intent) synopsis to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, 1 Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, NY 10594-1939 to provide maintenance services on the Crossbeam 540 Microscope located in the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR) in accordance with the following information.

Background Information

The Zeiss Crossbeam 540 is a sophisticated piece of equipment that can scan samples to create a 3D representation at nanoscale resolution. The Crossbeam has already been used for approximately 10 projects performed by 6 different researchers this year, even though much time during the year has been used for room renovation, installation, and Core staff training on the instrument. The NHLBI EM Core anticipates that the microscope will be constantly used in the coming year due to a large amount of interest from researchers both within NHLBI and the wider NIH community. It is therefore a requirement that the NHLBI EM Core has access to prompt, high quality service for maintenance and repair of the Zeiss Crossbeam to assure minimal downtime and maximal quality output of the microscope.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this procurement is for a contractor to provide the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR) a maintenance agreement on the Zeiss Crossbeam 540.

Contractor Requirements

The contractor shall provide the following maintenance on the Zeiss Crossbeam 540:

- One preventative maintenance inspection per agreement year (includes all labor and travel associated with conducting this PM inspection visit);

- All covered replacement parts;

- Scheduled and emergency service performed between the hours of 8AM and 5PM (Monday through Friday), excluding holidays; and,

- Factory trained Customer Support Engineers.

Sole Source Justification

The sole source determination is because the Crossbeam 540 is manufactured by Carl Zeiss Microscopy and only the manufacturer is authorized to perform maintenance and repair. Zeiss is the only source for comprehensive service contracts including routine maintenance, prompt emergency service, and parts for the Crossbeam 540 electron microscope. Furthermore, the Crossbeam is equipped with two computers;

one to run the microscope itself, and one to run software that provides 3D reconstructions. Both computers come with proprietary software from Zeiss that outside services would not be able to troubleshoot.

Regulatory Authority

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

FAR Clauses

The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this notice to the offeror listed above. The following factors shall be used to evaluate the offer: The contractor shall demonstrate its ability to provide maintenance on the Zeiss Crossbeam 540 that meets the required specifications listed.

FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, is applicable. An offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via http://www.acquisition.gov. If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the System for Award Management (SAM) website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision.

FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Additional Information

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811219 and the Small Business Size Standard is $20.5M. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-97 (January 24, 2018).

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient http://www.acquisition.gov/ information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. 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. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by February 20, 2018 at 12:00PM EST and must reference synopsis number 75N92018Q0051. Responses shall be submitted electronically to john.lear@nih.gov. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:john.lear@nih.gov