Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center intends to issue a sole source, Firm-Fixed-Price purchase order to Azenta US, Inc. for laboratory equipment maintenance services supporting the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The procurement covers preventative maintenance and repair services for critical laboratory equipment including two Azenta SampleStore II units, one tube auditor, and three Performance Blue CryoStor units located at the NCATS facility in Rockville, Maryland. These systems are essential for cryogenically preserving cell lines, proteins, and stem cells used by NCATS scientists in translational research. The government will evaluate capability statements submitted by interested vendors solely to determine whether to proceed with the sole source award or conduct a competitive procurement. Interested parties must submit capability statements by 5:00 PM ET on August 14, 2025, with submissions limited to five pages in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat format using 11-point font.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designation and identifies Azenta US, Inc. as the intended sole source contractor under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901. The contract structure includes a 12-month base performance period with one optional 12-month extension period. Service requirements specify comprehensive maintenance provisions including two annual preventative maintenance visits for each SampleStore II system, one annual visit for the tube auditor, and one visit for each CryoStor unit. Technical support features include remote access capabilities, standard tech support office hours, and a maximum four-hour response time for issues. On-site support includes 48-hour maximum maintenance windows covering labor, travel expenses, and replacement parts, with services designed to minimize research disruption and equipment downtime.