Notice of intent to sole source

Notice of Intent to Sole Source Award

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT AND IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Joint Administrative Operations, Acquisition & Property Operations. USFWS IRTM Headquarters intends to award a firm fixed price sole source under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.106-1(b) for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000 to:

SMITH-ROOT, INC.
16603 NE 50TH AVE
Vancouver, Washington
98686-1845, United States

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. FWS intends to award this requirement as a sole source to Smith-Root, Inc., because Smith-Root is the developer and sole producer and seller of the eDNA Water Sampler Equipment required by the field SOP due to its ability to utilize more robust self-desiccating filter packs that greatly reduce the risk of contamination. These samplers are in current use by multiple FWCO's throughout R3, and WGL was funded to purchase two additional eDNA samplers to support Whitney Genetics Lab (WGL) collaboration with the USFWS Northeast Fishery Center (NEFC, Region 5) on a metabarcoding Early Detection and Monitoring (EDM) project. This project is being developed to aid FWCOs monitoring efforts in the early detection of AIS which is critical to the mission of the USFWS FAC program to Manage Aquatic Invasive Species (USFWS FAC Strategic Goal #3). WGL and FWCO's follow SOPs developed by NEFC, and these are standardized across the program. In essence, the additional testing required to validate performance from competition would significantly delay results of this mission critical project. Many R3 FWCO's and the NEFC have previously procured these eDNA samplers from Smith-Root Inc., who is the sole-supplier of their eDNA samplers.

This synopsis does not constitute a solicitation; however, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities must be submitted in writing and must contain clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government. If parties choose to respond, any cost associated with preparation and submission of data or any other cost incurred in response to this announcement are the sole responsibility of the respondent and will not be reimbursed by the Government.

Capability statements shall be submitted by e-mail ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to the following address: deborah_florio@fws.gov. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS/OFFERS WILL BE HONORED