Renewal Service Agreement for FACSymphony A5 Flow Cytometers

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT AND NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

This notice is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.101(a)(1) requiring the dissemination of information regarding proposed contract actions.  This is a Notice of Intent to award a sole source, firm-fixed price purchase order under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901(e), as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and 13.501(a) - Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Service Will Satisfy Agency Requirements and is not a request for competitive quotes. 

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis (sole source) with Becton, Dickinson, and Company - BD Biosciences, 2350 Qume Drive, San Jose, CA 95131-1807.  This acquisition will provide maintenance services for five (5) FACSymphony A5 Flow Cytometers and twenty-five (25) various lasers manufactured by BD Biosciences, to support the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), Flow Cytometer Core Facility (FCCF). NIAID requires the maintenance services to maintain the equipment to ensure proper repair, recalibration, and returned to operation as soon as possible after failure.  If systems were put out of action due to lack of maintenance or mechanical failure, the ability of the investigators in the VRC to conduct their research would be severely compromised.  The BD equipment to be maintained consist of the following: 

Product Description                              Serial Number

FACSymphony A5                                   H66096400001

Sapphire 488-400 Blue Lsr.                     NO-SERIAL-9774

MPB 628-1000 .3mm Red SORP Lsr.     NO-SERIAL-9775

OBIS 405-100 LX Violet Lsr.                    NO-SERIAL-9776

MPB 532-1000 SORP Green Lsr.            NO-SERIAL-9777

G4 355-20 w/BE UV Lsr.                          NO-SERIAL-9778

High Throughput Sampler                        R65896001133

FACSymphony A5                                    H66096400005

MPB 628-1000 .3mm Red SORP Lsr.      NO-SERIAL-5538

G4 355-60 w/BD UV Lsr.                          NO-SERIAL-10515

Sapphire 488-400 Blue Lsr.                      NO-SERIAL-11420

MPB 532-1000 SORP Green Laser         NO-SERIAL-11421

COMP 405-100 Violet Lsr.                       NO-SERIAL-00000

High Throughput Sampler                       U3386590760254

FACSymphony A5                                  H66096400006

OBIS 405-100 LX Violet Lsr.                  NO-SERIAL-3204

MPB 628-1000 .3mm Red SORP Lsr.    NO-SERIAL-5539

G4 355-60 w/BD UV Lsr.                        NO-SERIAl-10516

MPB 523-1000 SORP Green Lsr.          NO-SERIAl-11423

Sapphire 488-400 Blue Lsr.                   NO-SERIAL-11422

High Throughput Sampler                     U64770160569

FACSymphony A5                                 H66096400007

MPB 628-10000 .3mm Red SORP Lsr.  NO-SERIAL-10517

SAPPHIRE 488-400 Blue Lsr.               NO-SERIAL-11424

MPB 532-10000 SIRP Green Lsr.         NO-SERIAL-11425

G4 355-60 UV Lsr.                                NO-SERIAL-11426

OBIS 405-100 LX Violet Lsr                 NO-SERIAL-11427

High Throughput Sampler                    U3386590760288

FACSymphony A5                               H66096400009

MPB 628-1000 .3mm Red SORP       NO-SERIAL-10518

SAPPHIRE 488-400 Blue Lsr             NO-SERIAL-11428

MPB 532-1000 SORP Green Lsr.      NO-SERIAL-11429

G4 355-60 w/BD UV Lsr.                   NO-SERIAL-11430

OBIS 405-100 LX Violet Lsr.             NO-SERIAL#-11431

High Throughput Sampler                 U30100349

The Period of Performance (POP) is July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.  Services shall be performed in Bethesda, Maryland 20814.  This requires a maintenance service agreement for flow cytometers, various lasers, and accessories.  Becton, Dickinson, and Company - BD Bioscience is the only vendor that can provide the required maintenance service agreement.  As the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), BD Biosciences has proprietary rights to the design and software utilized and is the only company with access to performance verified OEM component parts, spare parts, software, technical support, upgrades, and engineering resources to maintain the original operating specifications.

1. SCOPE

The contractor shall perform preventive, remedial maintenance and repair services to maintain the equipment in good working condition in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's specifications. 

2. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

A. The Contractor shall provide service coverage for the BD FACSymphony A5 that includes the following:

• Parts, labor, and travel for remedial repair,
• 2 Preventative Maintenance Inspections to be performed during twelve-month period,
• 2 Preventative MaintenanceKits,

• Software revisions and proprietary software updates released and immediately available,
• Unlimited service visits by guaranteed original equipment manufacturer (OEM) technicians, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays,
• Unlimited guaranteed OEM replacement service parts, components, or modules necessary for repairs, excluding third party items and consumables,
• 48 hour-guaranteed response to a request for emergency on-site service Monday­ Friday, excluding holidays, and
• Unlimited telephone support by BD trained and qualified field service engineer(s) for instruments, reagents, and applications.

This will be the only notice of the Government’s intent to solicit, negotiate, and award to one source to satisfy this requirement.  The Government plans to award a contract for this requirement on or around June 30, 2024.

The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811210 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance which has a size standard of $34 Million.  Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD) is an other than small business under this NAICS.

While this synopsis does not constitute a solicitation, interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to satisfy this requirement.  The Government understands that Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD), is the only vendor which can provide the required services for NIAID.  However, firms that believe they can provide the capability required to fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a capabilities statement, including past performance, in writing to the identified point of contact within seven (7) days after publication of this notice (June 20, 2024).  Such documentation shall be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis.

For additional information or to submit responses please contact (subject line to reference: NOI-NIAID-24-2213569) to Daveta H. Brown at daveta.brown@nih.gov, by 12:00 pm eastern daylight time Thursday, June 27, 2024.  All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow NIAID to determine if it can meet the above specifications described herein. All responses received by the closing date of this notice will be considered by the Government.  A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Any responses received by NIAID after this date and exact time specified is late and will not be considered.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for any information provided in response.  The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.  Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.  Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.