Annual Electron Microscope Maintenance

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES OR PROPOSALS, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)/Veterinary Services/National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) intends to award a sole source Purchase Order  to FEI COMPANY/SAM UEI#  CL4ELDSNT465/ CAGE 1FJ95 (Parent organizations Thermo Fisher Scientific),  for the continued  maintenance services, and software that improves the functionality of previously purchased software for the Technai Spirit Biotwin transmission electron microscope, serial number D1185, located in the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA from 01-01-2023 to 12-31-2024

Services to be provided:

• Monday through Friday coverage of service for phone service, labor, travel expenses and covered replacement parts

• One Preventative Maintenance Inspection to be performed during a twelve-month period, point of contact for setting up this visit provided and updated as needed

• Service visits with 48 hour targeted onsite labor response (includes labor, travel, living expenses and parts)

• All necessary parts

• Software updates on previously purchased software

• Unlimited telephone support (telephone number provided at start of contract) Monday through Friday excluding holidays

The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition. 

• The rationale for soliciting from a single source, including brand name in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and FAR 13.106-3(b)(3)(i). 

For acquisitions greater than the micro-purchase threshold but less than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) the Contracting Officer may solicit from one source only if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, etc.).  

• This is a follow-on from previous FEI COMPANY Orders for the same service

12619721P0045  

Period of Performance: 11/15/2020 to11/21/2021

12639522P0044

Period of Performance:              01/05/2022 to12/31/2022

 12619723P0018           

Period of Performance: 01/01/2023 to12/31/2023

• A very limited number of  Electron Microscope maintenance providers are available to the  Ames, IA area.   The Technai Spirit Biotwin transmission electron microscope in the USDA/ National Veterinarian Services Laboratories/ Diagnostic Virology Laboratory was purchased from FEI, and the FEI technicians are specifically trained to work on this microscope.

This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals.  No solicitation documents are available and telephone requests will not be honored.  However, if a firm believes it can meet the requirements it must furnish information about its products and services to the Contracting Officer by 4:00pm. Central Time (CT)  on the closing date of this notice.   Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient specifications and  detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the above requirement.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811210 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and  Maintenance, and the  Small business size standard is $ 34 Mil.

Responses received after the response date or without the required information will be deemed nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. Capability statements may be sent (via email only) to: Carol Dingess, Contracting Officer /Carol.Dingess@usda.gov.