Notice of Intent_1333ND26QNB730341.pdf

FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Notice

CLASSIFICATION CODE: J - Maintenance, Repair, Rebuild Equipment

SUBJECT: Procurement of a Service Agreement for MARKES International TD100-XR

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1333ND26QNB730341

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

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 Agilent Technologies, for the acquisition of an Service Agreement for MARKES International TD100-XR.

The supplies will be utilized by the NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL), in Gaithersburg, MD.

***** Sole source determination is based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Fire Research Division (FRD), requiring a preventive maintenance and repair service contract for its existing Agilent Technologies Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) system, including all associated proprietary hardware, firmware, software, and integrated components that comprise the laboratory's existing analytical platform.

This requirement is essential to ensure the continued operation of the Fire Research Division's MARKES International TD100-xr thermal desorption system, which is fully integrated with the Agilent GC/MS analytical platform. The TD100-xr is used for high-throughput chemical analysis of fire gases, smoke emissions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and combustion byproducts in support of multiple NIST fire science research programs. Continuous operation of this integrated analytical system is critical to ongoing experimental testing, data collection, and federally funded research activities.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the GC/MS system and is the only known source capable of providing comprehensive maintenance services that include:

• Factory-certified service engineers trained specifically on Agilent GC/MS instrumentation;

• Access to proprietary diagnostic software, firmware updates, calibration procedures, and service documentation;

• OEM-certified replacement parts guaranteed to meet original system specifications;

• Manufacturer-authorized software licensing and security updates;

• Validation and calibration procedures necessary to maintain instrument performance within manufacturer specifications.

Although third-party service providers may offer limited repair services for certain laboratory instruments, they do not possess unrestricted access to Agilent's proprietary diagnostic software, firmware, technical documentation, specialized calibration protocols, or OEM-certified replacement parts required to maintain the system in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Use of non-OEM service providers could adversely affect instrument performance, compromise analytical accuracy, invalidate manufacturer-supported configurations, and increase the likelihood of extended equipment downtime.

The Agilent GC/MS system operates as an integrated analytical platform with the MARKES TD100-xr thermal desorption unit. Because of this integration, maintenance activities require expertise with the proprietary interfaces between the two systems to ensure compatibility, maintain analytical performance, and preserve data integrity. Unauthorized repairs or installation of non-certified components could negatively impact system functionality and jeopardize the validity and reproducibility of research data.

Failure to procure this service contract would significantly increase the risk of prolonged or permanent system downtime. If the integrated analytical platform becomes unavailable, the Fire Research Division would be unable to support multiple ongoing research projects involving combustion chemistry, fire dynamics, smoke toxicity, materials flammability, and emissions characterization. Loss of this capability would delay critical research milestones, interrupt laboratory operations, increase project costs associated with rescheduling experiments, and negatively affect NIST's mission to advance measurement science and improve fire safety through scientific research.

Market Research

Market research determined that while independent laboratory equipment service providers exist, no known vendor other than Agilent Technologies can provide the complete range of OEM-certified maintenance services, proprietary diagnostic software access, firmware updates, technical documentation, factory-trained personnel, and certified replacement parts required to maintain the existing integrated Agilent GC/MS system in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Consequently, no alternative source can satisfy the Government's minimum technical requirements without introducing unacceptable performance, compatibility, and operational risks.

Impact if Not Procured

Failure to procure the required OEM maintenance services will place the integrated analytical system at substantial risk of extended or permanent downtime. Such downtime would interrupt high-throughput laboratory operations, delay multiple ongoing Fire Research Division research projects, compromise experimental schedules, increase operational costs associated with equipment outages, and significantly impair NIST's ability to conduct mission-critical fire science research supporting public safety, standards development, and measurement science.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. has been identified as the only source capable of meeting NIST’s requirements.

No other source is capable of providing the required OEM maintenance services necessary to ensure continued operation, reliability, and performance of the existing proprietary equipment without unacceptable technical risk.

***** The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1000 employees or less.

****** 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 07/21/2026, 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