Combined Solicitation Synopsis_Final.pdf

1333ND24QNB730042

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES

FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED

WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED; AND A

WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (I.E. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-05 effective 08/08/2023.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the requirement is 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing The small business size standard is 1000 Employees.

This acquisition shall be procured as a total small business set aside. Simplified acquisition procedures will be utilized.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Engineering Laboratory (EL) Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) studies the durability and service life of infrastructure materials (polymer, concrete, engineered composites) for resilience infrastructure applications. One of the key research focuses is to understand material properties through visualization of the samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Documentation of an object’s visual characteristics is important for documentation of samples throughout experimental studies for creating repositories of images for experimental integrity and evidence-based conclusions.

The MSSD operates various microscopes for visual characterization of various materials, but most operate on samples of minute size including glass slides (1 x 2) or materials embedded in 1” diameter epoxy pucks. Macroscopic samples, such as concrete core, would need to be sectioned down to a small area that is not always representative of the material. Furthermore, when analyzing materials, orienting analysis by macro imaging is helpful for comprehension of other results, microscopy or otherwise.

Stereoscopy is useful in viewing images from large, multi-dimensional data sets produced by experimental data. Stereoscopes are useful in inspection of larger objects, whereas compound or electron microscopy are better for visualization of small specimens, thus complimenting the other microscopes operated by MSSD.

The MSSD will benefit from the use of this stereoscope for analysis of various infrastructure materials (polymer, cement, concrete and composites) in the “Engineered Materials for Resilient Infrastructure” program, NCST investigations, and other work in the study of material properties.

APPLICABLE ATTACHMENTS

• Attachment 1 – Requirements Document

• Attachment 2 – Applicable Provisions and Clauses

1352.215-73 INQUIRES (APR 2010):

Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Marvin Jean at marvin.jean@nist.gov. Questions must be received no later than January 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m. EST after solicitation issuance. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of Provision).

DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS

All quotations must be submitted via e-mail to marvin.jean@nist.gov.

Quotations must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time January 17, 2024.

CONTRACT LINE-ITEM STRUCTURE

Offerors shall provide firm-fixed pricing for the following contract line-item number (CLIN):

CLIN Description Quantity Price

The Contractor shall provide one (1) Zoom Mirocscope System “Brand- Name or Equal” to the following equipment:

Manufacture: Zeiss Model: Axio Zoom V16

See Attachment 1 for technical specifications

One (1) Each

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND BASIS FOR AWARD

Evaluation Factors

An award will be made to the offeror whose quotation offers the best value to the Government price and other factors considered. The Government will evaluate quotations based on the following evaluation criteria: 1) Technical Capability 2) Price. The non-price factor is significantly more important than price.

Technical Capability: No prototypes, demonstration models, used or refurbished instruments will be considered. Evaluation of technical capability shall be based on the information provided in the quotation. NIST will evaluate whether the offeror has demonstrated that its proposed equipment meets or exceeds all minimum requirements. Quotations that do not demonstrate the proposed equipment meets all requirements will not be considered further for award. If an offeror does not indicate whether its proposed equipment meets a certain minimum requirement, NIST will determine that it does not.

Price: The Government will evaluate price for reasonableness.

Price shall not be evaluated on quotations that are determined technically unacceptable under the Technical Capability Evaluation factor.

NIST intends to evaluate quotations and issue a purchase order based on the initial quotes received.

Therefore, the offerors initial quote should contain the offerors best terms from a price and technical mailto:marvin.jean@nist.gov mailto:marvin.jean@nist.gov standpoint. The Contracting Officer anticipates awarding this requirement without discussions but reserves the right to enter discussions if it is deemed necessary.

REQUIRED SUBMISSIONS

All Offerors shall submit the following:

1. For the purpose of evaluation of Technical Capability: Documentation that confirms the offeror is capable of providing the equipment specified in the Requirements Document. Offeror shall include a copy of the quoted equipment manufacturer’s specifications.

2. Offeror shall provide pricing for the item located under CLIN 0001.

3. A completed version of all required solicitation provisions (see attached provisions/clauses document – required submissions highlighted in blue).

4. Any award resulting from this solicitation will contain the following statement: “The Government’s terms and conditions, identified herein, shall be the prevailing terms and conditions governing this award. In the event of a conflict between the Government’s and contractor’s terms and conditions, the Government’s terms and conditions take precedence.” If the Contractor objects to any of the terms and conditions contained in this solicitation, the contractor shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:” [Contractor shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)]. It is the sole responsibility of the Contractor to identify in their quote any exceptions to the terms and conditions of the solicitation. If the contractor does not include such a statement, the submission of a quotation in response to this solicitation will be regarded as the Contractor’s acceptance of the Government’s terms and conditions for inclusion into the resultant purchase order as prevailing.

5. Offeror shall provide an active UEI # for the System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Please note that this procurement IS NOT being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If a contractor submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price.

However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the contractor’s FSS or GWAC contract, and the statement required above shall be included in the quotation;

PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES:

The clauses and provisions applicable to this solicitation can be found under Attachment 2: Applicable Clauses & Provisions. The full text of a FAR provision or clause may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov/far. The full text of a CAR provision or clause may be accessed electronically at http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/ .

http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/