NOI-Sony.docx

Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Ongoing Preventative Maintenance Service

(PCA-NCI-00670)

The National Institutes of Health intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price purchase order to Sony Biotechnology Inc. Sony Biotechnology Inc. UEI is DQF2MP5BTAW7.

In accordance with FAR Part 6.302-1, Sony Biotechnology Inc. the Contractor is the only known responsible source who can provide the item that meets our standards. No other source has been identified who can provide the requirement listed below.

Sony Biotechnology, Inc. is the manufacturer and distributor of the MA900 cell sorter system. This cell sorter system requires regular maintenance for proper continuous function. The manufacturer does not license third party technicians, and spare or replacement parts for this instrument can only be obtained from the original manufacturer. Thus, no other company or 3rd party provider has trained personnel to work with this complex system or access to any potential required parts that might need replacing over time.

In addition, the MA900 cell sorter has a specialized operating system that only service engineers at Sony Biotechnology, Inc. are authorized to handle. Sony Biotechnology, Inc. owns the proprietary software needed to provide the required support for the cell sorter system. No other vendor has trained personnel to handle the software that works in conjunction with the Sony MA900 cell sorter. In the event a non-authorized contractor tries to repair and damages the cell sorter, the manufacturer will not take responsibility to repair it.

Because of the high degree of sensitivity and specificity of the components integrated into the system, as well as the software interfaced with this system, only factory-trained service engineers from Sony Biotechnology, Inc. can perform maintenance and repair on this instrument, as well as obtaining the necessary parts for replacement as needed. Sony Biotechnology is the only vendor that has Field Service Engineers specifically trained to perform preventative maintenance, instrument repairs and software upgrades on the Sony MA900 cell sorter, using the required proprietary replacement parts and computer software.

Only the manufacturer is capable of providing the maintenance and parts required because Sony does not license third party technicians. No other vendors currently provide this service for the Sony MA900 cell sorter. This makes Sony Biotechnology the only known source for this requirement. Therefore, Sony Biotechnology, Inc. is the only provider that can meet the Government’s needs at this time.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes. Sony Biotechnology Inc. is the manufacturer. However, any available small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business) as stated herein may submit a written capability statement that clearly supports and demonstrates their ability to perform the requirement. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed award based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

It is anticipated that an award will be issued approximately five (5) days after the date of this notice unless the Government determines that another organization has the capability to meet this requirement.

Please email responses to david.shen@nih.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday March 23, 2026.