Service Contract for BSL3 Autoclave at NYHAFL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's New York Human and Animal Food Laboratory (NYHAFL) has issued a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source for a preventative maintenance service contract for a BSL3 autoclave. The FDA Office of Acquisition and Grant Services published this notice on August 28, 2025, with responses due by September 4, 2025. The agency conducts sample analysis on human and animal foods and requires a fully functional autoclave to decontaminate all waste and materials being removed from the BSL3 laboratory. Steris Corporation has been identified as the sole manufacturer capable of providing the necessary maintenance services for this critical equipment. The notice invites capability statements from interested vendors, particularly small businesses, to demonstrate their ability to provide these specialized services.

The primary objective of this Special Notice is to maintain the BSL3 autoclave in constant operational status through comprehensive preventive maintenance and repair services, which is essential for meeting ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation requirements and ensuring readiness for potential public health emergencies. Interested contractors must submit capability statements including their Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number, company details, and business type to Erika Crawford by 10:00 AM EST on September 4, 2025. The contract requires vendors to have trained and certified engineers, provide 24/7 technical support, meet OEM recommended maintenance standards, and deliver detailed service documentation. The service period spans from July 20, 2025, to July 19, 2026, with four potential option years extending through July 2030. If no responsive capability statements are received by the deadline, the FDA will proceed with awarding the contract to Steris Corporation under FAR 8.405-6(1)(B) as a firm fixed price purchase order, emphasizing that competing this requirement could cause significant delays to the research program.