Notice_of_Intent_1.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: 75N94024Q00118 Solicitation Type: Sole Source (Non-Competitive) Title: NICHD: Service: Service Agreement for ThermoFisher FEI Tecnai TF20

Transmission Electron Microscope NAICS / Size Standard: 811210 / 34 Million

Introduction

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to FEI Company to provide a service agreement for the ThermoFisher FEI Tecnai TF20 Transmission Electron Microscope.

Background Information

The ThermoFisher-FEI Technai TF20 Microscope is a highly sophisticated instrument operating at high voltage, high vacuum, with a series of magnetic lenses and apertures that are largely computer operated. Regular maintenance of the machine, alignment of the electron beam, replacement of the consumables such as O-rings, apertures, filaments etc., and upgrades of the software by skilled personnel results in savings of technician time and enhance the flow-through of experimental samples.

Preventative maintenance is needed to maintain the ThermoFisher FEI Tecnai TF20 Transmission Electron Microscope.

Purpose and Objectives

The lab needs a service agreement to maintain the ThermoFisher FEI Tecnai TF20 Transmission Electron Microscope.

Period of Performance

The period of performance is September 13, 2024 through September 12, 2025.

Contractor Requirements

The contractor needs to maintain a working group of service engineers on the NIH campus resulting in the immediate availability of trained personnel in case of equipment problems and also includes the following:

• one preventive maintenance visit (per year).

• 4-hour targeted telephone support.

• 48-hour targeted onsite labor response.

• unlimited labor hours (including travel time and expenses).

• all necessary spare parts including accessories.

• replacement FEG tip (for applicable products).

• software updates.

Sole Source Justification

ThermoFisher maintains a working group of service engineers on the NIH campus resulting in the immediate availability of trained personnel in case of equipment problems. Having a guaranteed turnaround time for repair personnel is essential to prevent downtime which reduces productivity and efficiency. The ThermoFisher FEI Technai TF20 Transmission Electron Microscope contains proprietary engineering parts and software. Only ThermoFisher personnel possess the training and expertise to perform optimization and repair tasks in an efficient manner to minimize downtime of the microscope.

Regulatory Authority

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

FAR Clauses

The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this notice to the offeror listed above. The following factors shall be used to evaluate the offer: The contractor shall demonstrate its ability to provide the detector listed that meets the specifications provided above.

FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, is applicable. The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through

(v) of this provision.

FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Products and Commercial Services applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Products and Commercial Services applies to this acquisition.

Additional Information

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811210 and the Small Business Size Standard is 34 Million. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-05 effective April 22, 2024.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by June 7, 2024 5:00 PM ET and must reference solicitation number.

75N94024Q00118. Responses shall be submitted electronically to nicole.freid@nih.gov. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:nicole.freid@nih.gov