Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Maintenance/Service

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technical Laboratory (NETL) intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to JEOL USA Inc. to renew the annual maintenance/service level agreement for the JEOL JXA-8530F-Plus field emission electron probe microanalyzer for the base period of March 27, 2020 through March 26, 2021, plus up to four (4), one-year (12 months) option years.  The anticipated period of performance, inclusive of all option periods, is March 27, 2020 through March 26, 2025.

This is considered a sole source to JEOL because, to the best of the NETL’s knowledge, based on market research conducted JEOL is the only known source that can maintain the JXA-8530F-Plus field emission electron probe microanalyzer.  JEOL is the sole factory authorized provider of service in the United States.  They are the only company that can provide service to their instruments.  JEOL does not sale nor supply their service manuals to other vendors or customers.  JEOL has the unique proprietary parts and computer interfaces as well as software that no other manufacturer has available.  JEOL is the only company that can service and upgrade a JEOL JXA 8530F(Plus) microprobe and guarantee that all repairs/upgrades will function properly with all the other instrument components.  Replacement parts must be obtained from the original equipment manufacturer to assure satisfactory operation of the equipment.  Service and repairs must be performed by JEOL trained service engineers.  JEOL is the only vendor that can supply the required maintenance/service level agreement.  No known potential alternate sources exist which could satisfy NETL’s requirement.
 
This notice of intent to sole source is not a request for quote/proposal.  Any interested party that believes it is capable of meeting the NETL requirement described herein may identify themselves and must provide evidence of their capability to fulfill the requirement being requested by 4:30 PM ET on February 25, 2020.  Responses must be submitted in writing to the purchasing agent, Lora Stumpf, via email at stumpf@netl.doe.gov no later than the time and date noted above.  Telephone responses and requests will not be received.
 
A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.