Notice of Intent to Sole Source NOS.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

In support of FDA Project No: FDA-NSS-CFSAN-2024-122588.

The Food and Drug Administration, Office of Acquisitions and Grant Services, Facilities Support Branch intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order to Normco Cascade, Inc., 1981, Moreland Parkway, Bldg 3, Suite 2, Annapolis, MD 21401, Email: sschied@norcas.com.

The purpose of this requirement is to purchase two previously owned CONVIRON Growth Chambers, Model GEN1000, serial number 220266 and Model GEN2000, serial number 220268 from Normco Cascade, Inc. that simulates real-life growing conditions of covered produce and the survival of foodborne pathogens on the soil, their transfer to the edible portion of the crop, and their interaction with their environment, instead of using surrogate organisms, as well as experiments observing the absorption of heavy metals via the plant vascular system during produce growth, to provide science-based answers that drive the agency policy on produce safety.

Because it is imperative to compare results and considering that OARSA already acquired six (6) smaller growth chambers (GEN1000), four (4) GEN 2000 chambers, and one (1) GR128 walk-in chamber, OARSA considers that purchasing the additional GEN1000 and GEN2000 models from Normco Cascade, Inc. is the acceptable protocol. We are interested on comparing the data obtained during the experiments, and because this company is the only one that produces these growth chambers with the technical specs required, no other equipment will satisfy the requirements on data comparison and reproducibility.

The Contractor shall deliver (previously owned) one (1) CONVIRON model GEN1000, serial number 220266 and one (1) CONVIRON model GEN2000, serial number 220268, Growth Chambers to FDA, 8301 Muirkirk Rd, Laurel MD 20708.

These two chambers were previously owned by Normco Cascade, Inc and they are selling them.

As FDA is interested in replicating results, for consistency, it is imperative to obtain the same GEN1000 and GEN2000 models made by CONVIRON to satisfy this relevant requirement.

Besides, as mentioned above, OARSA purchased six (6) of the GEN1000 chambers, as well as four (4) of the GEN 2000 chambers and one (1) GR128 walk-in chamber, all from the same manufacturer. to be able to compare results during the experiments.

Normco Cascade, Inc., is the only source for these previously owned Gen1000 and Gen2000 growth chambers. This procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR subpart 13.106- 1(b)(1)(i) which allows the Contracting Officer to solicit from one source. The North American Classification System Code is 334516-Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and Product Service Code: 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies.

This notice is being distributed solely via the General Services Administration’s System for

Awards Management website (www.SAM.gov). As Controlled Environments Inc is the only source that can meet the Government’s need at this time, this notice is not a request for competitive quotes. However, if any interested parties, especially a small business believes it can meet the Government’s needs, it may identify their interests and/or capability in relation to this procurement to the Contracting Officer, Emmanuel T. Mbah, at Emmanuel.mbah@fda.hhs.gov no later than 12:00 PM EST on July 10th, 2024. Responses sent utilizing other means will not be considered.

Information received will be used solely to determine whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed action based upon responses to this notice is at the discretion of the Government.

All responses must include the following business information:

a. Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number

b. Company Name, address, primary point of contact and their email and phone number

c. Type of company (i.e., small business, 8a, woman owned, HubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in SAM.gov. All interested parties must be registered in SAM.gov to receive consideration of government contracts.

d. Evidence of technical acceptability such as documents of OEM certified technicians to perform service.

It is anticipated that an award will be issued to Controlled Environments Inc., within approximately fifteen (15) days after the date of this notice unless the Government determines that any other organization has the capacity to meet this requirement.