Notice of Intent (NOI) to Sole Source Renewal Maintenance Services for Imagining Equipment

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT AND NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

This notice is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.101(a)(1) requiring the dissemination of information regarding proposed contract actions.  This is a Notice of Intent to award a sole source, firm-fixed price purchase order under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901(e), as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and 13.501(a) - Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Service Will Satisfy Agency Requirements and is not a request for competitive quotes. 

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis (sole source) with Philips North America, LLC, 22100 Bothell Everett Hwy, MS 665, Bothell, WA 98041, to provide maintenance services for imaging equipment located at a biological high containment Biological Safety Level 4 (BSL-4) Integrated Research Facility (IRF) at Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland. The equipment to be maintained consist of the following:

Philips Medical Imaging Systems:

a) Magnetic Resonance 3T Achieva, Site #17226 (Serial # 532851)

b) Gemini TF (Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography Biocontainment system (CT) Hybrid System) Site #42392378

Philips Uninterrupted Power Supply Systems:

a.Philips MR MidTier System, Site #62073790

b.Chloride 80kVA 480V 60Hz PET/CT UPS, Serial #1334373

Period of Performance (POP) is March 18, 2024 – January 17, 2025.  Services shall be performed in Frederick, Maryland 21702. The IRF requires maintenance services for imaging equipment that contain both commercial and proprietary non-commercial components. The non-commercial components are provided by Philips Healthcare, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), who designed, developed, and implemented the necessary modifications to standard, commercial diagnostic imaging equipment including MRI and PET/CT so that the equipment is capable of operating with some components of the respective devices inside BSL-4 containment.

The OEM shall perform preventive, remedial maintenance and repair services to maintain the equipment in good working condition in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's specifications.  The contractor shall provide all service reports, materials, parts, test equipment, transportation, labor, and all other related services for servicing the imaging equipment at the IRF.  The IRF imaging personnel will assist in filling of phantoms and placing phantoms on imaging tables during the scheduled preventive maintenance and assist in performing tasks related to service on the high-containment side of the imaging suites. The OEM and the Government agree that the contractor's personnel will only access high-containment areas if the ill-functioning imaging system parts residing within the high-containment environment cannot be serviced by one of the IRF imaging staff members. Opening of a high-containment area requires performing a decontamination process and approval of entry by the Division of Occupational Health and Safety.

The OEM is responsible for compliance with all the laws, rules, and regulations governing conduct at the IRF. The contractor will follow all Federal, State, and local laws related to the safety and health of personnel and property damage.  Due to the security requirements imposed by the government, the contractor personnel shall make appropriate arrangements for escorted entrance into IRF and into the imaging suites to perform diagnostics, preventive maintenance, and service on the equipment.  Maintenance and calibration that cannot be performed outside the containment zone shall be performed either once annually (post fumigation of space) or shall be performed in compliance with the standard and special practices as described in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) for BSL-4 suit laboratory space.

The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811210 - Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, which has a size standard of $34 Million.  Philips North America, LLC is an other than small business.

This will be the only notice of the Government’s intent to solicit, negotiate, and award to one source to satisfy this requirement.  The Government plans to award a contract for this requirement within 30 days of this notice.

While this synopsis does not constitute a solicitation, interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to satisfy this requirement.  The Government understands that Philips North America, LLC, is the only vendor which can provide the required services for NIAID.  However, firms that believe they can provide the capability required to fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a capabilities statement, including past performance, in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this notice.  Such documentation shall be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis.

For additional information or to submit responses please contact Daveta H. Brown at daveta.brown@nih.gov, (subject line to reference: (NIAID-NOI-24-2203587), by 5:00 pm eastern daylight time on February 22, 2024.  All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow NIAID to determine if it can meet the above specifications described herein. All responses received by the closing date of this notice will be considered by the Government.  A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Any responses received by NIAID after this date and exact time specified is late and will not be considered.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for any information provided in response.  The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.  Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.  Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.