Intent to Sole Source to Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD Biosciences) for Preventative Maintenance Services for the BD Biosciences Flow Cytometer Analyzer; Lasers; and High Throughput Sampler

This is a Pre-Solicitation/Notice of Intent Synopsis for a sole source noncompetitive award to BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA for preventative maintenance services for the BD Biosciences' flow cytometer analyzer; Green, Violet, Sapphire and Red lasers; and high throughput sampler.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), on behalf of the Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology, Flow Cytometry Core Facility intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source noncompetitive basis for preventative maintenance services for the BD Biosciences' flow cytometer analyzer; Green, Violet, Sapphire and Red lasers; and high throughput sampler.to Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD Biosciences).

The NIH, Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology, Flow Cytometry Core Facility requires this equipment be maintained in proper working condition to not cause disruptions in experiments. Such disruptions could cause waste of cells and/or animals, reagents, and obtaining results that are necessary for accurate experimental data.

The period of performance will be one-year from date of award (base period) with four (4) one-year options.

The basis for the sole source determination is based upon the fact that: BD Biosciences is Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. is the sole provider of the maintenance services and parts for their proprietary equipment. Only BD Biosciences' technicians are certified to repair and maintain the proprietary equipment.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) as set forth under FAR Part 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competition Requirements.

The North American Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this requirement is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a size standard of 500 employees.

This Pre-Solicitation/Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals. This announcement constitutes the only notice; proposals are not being request and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The determination by the Government to award a contract on a sole source noncompetitive basis for the preventative maintenance services for the BD Biosciences Flow Cytometer Analyzer to BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA is solely within the discretion of the Government. Any information received as a result of this Pre-Solicitation/Notice of Intent will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct any future competitive procurement.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capability for any future competitive procurement by responding to this notice in writing, no later than March 8, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. EST. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient documentation to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement. All responses must reference this Pre-Solicitation/Notice of Intent number NHLBI-CSB-HL-2013-106-RRJ and may be submitted electronically to Robin Jeffries, Contracting Officer at robin.jeffries@nih.gov or by mail to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6122, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902, Attention: Robin Jeffries, Contracting Officer.