Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source - Thermo Niton XRFs

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has a requirement to purchase sixteen (16) brand name Thermo Scientific's Niton handheld XRF model XL3t 700SGOLDD devices.  The CPSC intends to issue a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments, Inc., 2 Radcliff Rd., Tewksbury, MA 01876-1182, on a sole source basis. The award will be issued in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b).  CPSC currently has an active BPA with Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments to provide repair and calibration services, on an as needed basis, at a firmed fixed price for Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers.

Additional Thermo Scientific brand XRF analyzers (model XL3t 700SGOLDD) are critically needed by the CPSC’s field and import surveillance staff to screen products for lead (Pb) and other elements of interest. The XRF analyzers must be capable of measuring lead (Pb) content in children’s products to determine compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  The XRF must meet the requirements outlined for the testing apparatus in the ASTMF2617-08 test procedure for Identification and Quantification of Chromium, Bromine, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Polymeric Material Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry.  Units must be suitable for use as a handheld analyzer for the measurement of lead, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, selenium, barium, chromium, and mercury in consumer products including metals, plastic, glass, and paint.  The analyzer must be able to detect < 80 parts per million (ppm) Pb on 20-micron thick paint layer. The analyzer must be able to detect < 20 ppm Pb in plastics. The analyzer must be able to detect and accurately measure Pb on mass fraction basis in plastic certified reference materials that contain low levels of Pb such as the European Reference Material ERM®-EC680k.  The analyzer must be able to detect < 70 ppm Pb in metal alloys such as zinc, tin, copper, steel.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals. A solicitation will not be issued; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor's ability to fulfill this requirement. The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each.

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Interested parties may submit any information for consideration by the Government to ggrayson@cpsc.gov. Responses must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. EST on 21 June 2021.