Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Maintenance Services for Bruker timsTOF Pro 2 Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management (OAAM), Acquisition Management Division (AMD), on behalf of the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), Biomolecular Measurement Division (BMD), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis under the authority of RFO FAR 12.102(a) with:

Bruker Scientific LLC
40 Manning Road
Billerica, MA 01821

for a comprehensive maintenance and repair service agreement for a Bruker timsTOF Pro 2 Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer equipped with nanoElute LC located at the NIST Gaithersburg, Maryland campus.

The contractor shall provide maintenance and repair services for the Bruker timsTOF Pro 2 Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer (S/N 187508710536) equipped with nanoElute LC (S/N 183793454473) to ensure uninterrupted operation within manufacturer specifications.

Services shall include:

• Unlimited emergency service visits during regular business hours
• Scheduled preventive maintenance visits
• Remote technical support and diagnostics
• On-site repair services
• Genuine manufacturer replacement parts required for repair and preventive maintenance
• Guaranteed 72-Hour response time

These services are required to ensure continued operation of the instrument used by the Biomolecular Measurement Division to generate mass spectral data supporting NIST reference materials and spectral libraries used by the scientific community.

Period of Performance

Base Period:
April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027

Option Periods:

Option Year 1: April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028
Option Year 2: April 1, 2028 – March 31, 2029
Option Year 3: April 1, 2029 – March 31, 2030
Option Year 4: April 1, 2030 – March 31, 2031

Place of Performance

National Institute of Standards and Technology
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
United States

Sole Source Justification

The timsTOF Pro 2 Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer is a proprietary instrument designed and manufactured by Bruker Scientific LLC.

The instrument incorporates proprietary hardware architecture, diagnostic software, firmware, and replacement components that are manufactured exclusively by or for Bruker Scientific LLC. Proper servicing of this equipment requires access to proprietary service documentation, diagnostic tools, firmware updates, and software updates that are only available through the original equipment manufacturer.

Market Research has demonstrated and Bruker Scientific LLC has asserted that it is the sole manufacturer and authorized service provider for this instrument platform. Bruker Scientific LLC does not certify third-party service organizations to perform maintenance or repair services on its systems. Only Bruker Scientific LLC Field Service Representatives receive manufacturer training on the proprietary hardware, firmware, and software required to service these instruments and guarantee that the maintenance and parts will be fully compatible with and meet the original performance specifications for the equipment.

Market research conducted by NIST included searches of the General Services Administration (GSA), Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS), internet sources, and outreach to vendors known to provide mass spectrometer repair services. These efforts did not identify any vendor capable of providing maintenance services for the Bruker Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer platform other than Bruker Scientific LLC.

Because of the proprietary design of the equipment and the requirement for manufacturer-certified technicians, proprietary diagnostic tools, and genuine replacement parts, Bruker Scientific LLC is the only reasonably available source capable of meeting the Government’s minimum requirements.

No solicitation package will be issued.  This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, responsible sources that believe they can meet the Government’s requirement may submit capability statements demonstrating their ability to provide the required services.

Capability statements must clearly demonstrate the ability to:

• Provide manufacturer-certified technicians
• Use manufacturer-approved diagnostic tools and software
• Provide genuine manufacturer replacement parts
• Maintain the instrument to manufacturer specifications

Responses received by March 18, 2026 will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.