ORD/NERL/EMMD, Starr. AB SCIEX Maintenance Agreement Renewal. [PHCB]

Subject: PR-ORD-19-00966
Procurement Office: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Headquarters Acquisition Division 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue. NW Washington. DC 20460
In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research
and Development intends to award a Sole Source Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order for a service plan for
an AB SCIEX MDS Sciex API model 4000 MS/MS (SN V2490308) High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph/Tandem Mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) system which is used to support the Human
Health program.
AB Sciex LLC will provide maintenance meeting the specifications described below:
One preventative maintenance per year, to include (but not limited to):
¿ rough pump oil change
¿ cleaning and/or replacement of serviced instrument parts
¿ System testing
Use of OEM parts, engineers, and software only
48-hr service time-frame
OEM telephone support
OEM software upgrades
OEM troubleshooting via certified advanced service diagnostics software
OEM certified replacement parts
OEM onsite repair to include labor, travel and service parts included
Services to include all modules and software for instrument
The requested agreement is sold by the manufacturer of the AB SCIEX LC/MS/MS and designed
specifically for its support. Further, this agreement secures the support (two-day response) of field
service engineers and technicians that have been trained on this instrument and are fully supported by
the manufacturer. This specialized training and support are essential because the LC/MS/MS has many
functions, parts and components that are specific and unique to this instrument¿s make and model. We
have concluded that this agreement, in its specifics, is exclusive to AB SCIEX and, to the best of our
knowledge, not available through other vendors. In addition, AB SCIEX engineers use Advanced Service
Diagnostics software to evaluate the LC/MS/MS. This software is copyrighted by the manufacturer and
only service engineers representing the manufacturer have access to this diagnostics software. This
software is necessary to effectively evaluate the performance of the instrument, perform preventive
maintenance, and troubleshoot instrument malfunctions. It is our understanding that use of this
proprietary software is the only acceptable way to service the instrument. The use of alternative
diagnostic techniques will not ensure the instrument continues to perform according to the
manufacturer¿s specifications.
Under the AB SCIEX service agreement and software plan, we are guaranteed that all replacement parts
are available and certified as manufactured by Applied Biosystem, or AB SCIEX approved vendors.
Further, and more importantly, that the instrument will continue to function with the same sensitivity
and specificity as when received from the manufacturer. The instrument must perform to these
specifications or it will no longer fulfill our technical requirements. Use of the manufacturers¿ service
agreement ensures continuity of performance (which is a technical requirement).
This instrumentation, when purchased, included a one-year manufacturer¿s warranty. Since the
expiration of this warranty EMMD has continuously maintained an annual service agreement with the
manufacturer of the instrument. Because this instrument is critical to EMMD research in the Safe and
Healthy Communities program, it is essential that it operates without interruption. A service agreement
that includes preventive maintenance ensures the instrument operates continuously, at optimal
performance. Previous experience with similar instruments shows that repairs not covered by a service
agreement may result in unacceptable delays to the research program. In addition, service agreements
with third party vendors has also resulted in unacceptable delays in instrument repairs. This service
agreement and software plan will fulfill our science requirement for uninterrupted operation of the
instrument.
Because this instrument is critical to the EMMD efforts in the Safe and Healthy Communities program, it
is imperative that it operates without interruption. A service agreement that includes access to
engineers having full and current training ensures the instrument operates continuously, at optimal
performance.
A market survey was conducted to identify other potential vendors of preventive maintenance
agreements for this equipment. No other vendors were found which fulfill the requirement.
Based on this market research, AB Sciex LLC is the only vendor identified that can provide a servicing
agreement that meets the requirements detailed above.
NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE.
This notice of intent to award is not a request for competitive quotations. Interested concerns capable:
or providing the service as described in this notice may submit a Capability Statement outlining their
capabilities. Information received will be evaluated for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a
competitive procurement. Capability Statements must be received within the time set forth in this
announcement to be considered by the Government. A determination to compete this proposed
contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Each
response should include the following Business Information:
a. DUNS.
b. Company Name. address, POC, Phone and Email address
c. Current GSA Schedules or NAICS codes appropriate to this Award.
d. Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HubZone, veteran owned. etc.) as
validated in System For Award Management (SAM). All offerors must register on the SAM located at
http://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/# l
e. Capability Statement
Responses to this posting must be in writing and provide clear and convincing evidence that competition
would be advantageous to the Government. A determination not to compete the proposed purchase
order based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All
questions should be directed to William Tichacek, Contract Specialist at tichacek.william@epa.gov.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.