Benchtop 100Mhz NMR Spectrometer

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

THIS IS A Sources Sought Notice ONLY. The U.S. Government currently intends to award a contract for a 100Mhz benchtop NMR spectrometer on an SOLE SOURCE basis, but is seeking vendors that may be able to perform this requirement in order to support a competitive procurement. Accordingly, the U.S. Government highly encourages all interested businesses (large and small) to respond to this sources sought notice. In addition, small businesses, in all socioeconomic categories (including, 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Disadvantage Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned Small Business concerns), must describe their identifying capabilities in meeting the requirements at a fair market price, i.e., information which may help support a set-aside.

The anticipated contract type for the proposed sole source contract is firm fixed price. However, the Government reserves the right to change the contract type after proper market research is conducted. The statutory authority for the sole source procurement is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization. Attached is the draft Product Description (PD).

This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this sources sought notice. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. However, if a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Government Point of Entry (GPE), sam.gov. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the GPE for additional information pertaining to this requirement. The NAICS code is 334519, Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing, with a size standard of 600 employees.

In response to this sources sought, please provide:

1.  Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or  solutions.  Also contact the MICC Advocate for Competition, Scott Kukes, at scott.d.kukes.civ@army.mil or 210-466-3015, if you believe that this action is unreasonably restricting competition. Include the subject of the acquisition, this announcement, and the MICC POC information from the Sources Sought Notice. Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.

2.  Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, commercial activity/government entity (CAGE) code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code.

3.  Identify whether your firm is interested in competing for this requirement as a prime contractor or not. Identify subcontracting, joint ventures or teaming arrangement that will be pursued, if any.

4.  Information in sufficient detail regarding previous experience (indicate whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements (include size, scope, complexity, timeframe, government or commercial), pertinent certifications, etc., that will facilitate making a capability determination. 

5.  Information to help determine if the requirement (item or service) is commercially available, including pricing information, basis for the pricing information (e.g., market pricing, catalog pricing), delivery schedules, customary terms and conditions, warranties, etc.

6.  Identify how the Army can best structure these contract requirements to facilitate competition, including competition among small business concerns.

7.  Recommendations to improve the Army's approach/specifications/draft PWS/PD to acquiring the identified items.

8.  Responses to this sources sought shall be sent to the Contract Specialist, Jeremy A. Macdougall, at jeremy.a.macdougall.civ@army.mil no later than September 9, 2024 by 2:00 PM, MST. Acknowledgement of receipt will not be made.