Notice_of_Intent_-_Sole_Source.docx

FBO ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT

ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICE

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66- Instruments and Laboratory Equipment SUBJECT: Purchase of Two Elementar Non Metals Analyzers

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB646010-16-03078

RESPONSE DATE: 10 days after posting

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with Elementar Americas Inc. located at 520 Fellowship Rd, Suite D408, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054-3408, to purchase two Non Metals Analyzers: One Vario MACRO Cube and One Inductar EL cube.

The sole source justification is based on the following: The NIST Chemical Sciences Division develops test methods and reference materials in support of the U.S. Measurement System. The Division is responsible for establishing traceability of measured values to the International System of Units in the area of chemical metrology. Currently, the Division is unable to fulfill this responsibility for certain non-metal elements, namely hydrogen (H), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and sulfur (S), in metals, inorganic materials and organic materials, plus chlorine (Cl) in organic materials.

This acquisition is intended to procure elemental analysis instrumentation specifically for the purpose of studying the sample destruction and constituent measurement processes embodied in the instruments to be acquired. The instruments are designed to perform quantitative analyses of H, C, N, O, and S (metals and inorganics) or H, C, N, S, and Cl (organics), together and individually, in matrix materials for Standard Reference Material development and in pure metals and chemicals that serve as this nation’s primary references for amount of substance for 68 elements in the Periodic Table. The instrument designs required employ either combustion or inert gas fusion to drive the elements out of a specimen. The instruments react the elements to form gaseous compounds that can be separated utilizing a process known as “trap and purge.” The constituents can then be selectively removed from each trap, detected and quantified after calibration of the instrument response. Members of the Inorganic Measurement Science Group have researched these technologies and determined that they will serve the above purposes and enable Group scientists to achieve NIST’s goals.

Market research has shown that Elementar Americas Inc. is the only source reasonably available for providing the required “trap and purge” Non Metals Analyzers. Specifically, the Elementar models (1) Vario MACRO Cube and (2) Inductar EL cube meet NIST’s requirements.Sources Sought notice 2016-MML-NMA was posted on 6/6/2016 to determine whether a “Brand Name or Equal” procurement might potentially result in alternative quotes, but the notice failed to produce any responses from alternate vendors demonstrating their capability of meeting NIST’s requirements.

Given these facts, Elementar Americas Inc. is the only source reasonably available to provide the required equipment and software.The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 334516 with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 9:00 am ET 6/24/2016 will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.