NOI Maintenance Support.pdf

FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Notice

CLASSIFICATION CODE: Z - Maintenance, Repair, Alter Real Property

SUBJECT: Procurement of Maintenance Support Services for TA DSC Q2000 & TGA Q500 Instruments

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1333ND22QNB730184

CONTACT POINTS: Robert Cowins, Contract Specialist (301) 975-8335

Hing Pan Wong, Contracting Officer (301) 975-6289

DESCRIPTION: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR Part 13.106-1(b) with TA Instruments - Waters L.L.C., New Castle, DE for the acquisition of a Maintenance Support Services for TA DSC Q2000 & TGA Q500 Instruments. The services will be utilized by the NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL), in Gaithersburg, MD.

***** Sole source determination is based on the the following:

TA DSC Q2000 & TGA Q500 Instruments (manufactured by TA instruments) been heavily used in many research projects for thermal analysis, compositional analysis, residue determination, and thermal stability of infrastructure materials (polymer, concrete, engineered composites) to provide essential data to meet with IMG research needs. To ensure continuity of research efforts in the IMG/NIST laboratories, it is vital to ensure these two instruments maintained at full operational performance.

NIST conducted web searches on www.google.com and GSA General Services Administration (www.gsaadvantage.gov) using key words such as Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TA DSCQ2000 repair and service, Q500 repair and service, thermal analysis instrument repair. No sources were identified on from GSA Advantage. Four vendors (TA Instruments, Mettler-Toledo, Hitachi high tech, and Shimadzu were identified via Google search. After further research into these companies the results showed that Mettler-Toledo, Hitachi high tech, and Shimadzu offer service for different DSC/TGA or combined instruments, but do not have the same system DSC model Q2000 and TGA model Q500. If repairs are required neither vendor could guarantee that the components provided will be compatible with the TA hardware and software. Furthermore, use of third-party parts may cause instability of the instruments and TA Instruments equipment warranty could be void if third party technician provide service TA Instrument’s equipment.

TA Instruments - Waters L.L.C. has been identified as the sole source maintenance provider capable to maintaining and servicing NIST current system requirements.

***** The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811219 - Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, with a small business size standard of 22 million in annual revenue.

****** A determination by the Government whether to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

*****No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations.

Interested parties that believe they can satisfy the requirements listed above must identify their capability in writing before the response date of this notice. Only responses received by 05/06/2022, 12:00 p.m., EST will be considered by the government. Responses shall be submitted via email to robert.cowins@nist.gov.

Contracting Office Address:

100 Bureau Drive Bldg. 301, Mail Stop 1640 Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001 mailto:robert.cowins@nist.gov