Part 8 - Final

The Utah Division of Purchasing has issued a Notice of Intent to Award a Contract Without Engaging in a Standard Procurement Process for a five-year service agreement with Netzsch, with a public comment period deadline of August 4, 2026. The sole-source justification is the basis for the award.

Netzsch is claimed as the only provider capable of delivering Original Equipment Manufacturer authorized service plans with access to manufacturer-trained personnel, proprietary software support, original replacement parts, factory calibration procedures, and comprehensive maintenance coverage. The conducting procurement unit is the Office of Energy Development on behalf of USREL. Market research by USREL contacted four alternative service providers—Lighthouse Lab Services, Ellab, Pace Labs, and SiteCal—all of whom declined the work or indicated the equipment is typically serviced directly by the OEM. A search of state cooperative contracts for laboratory equipment repair services yielded no competing options.

The scope covers maintenance and repair of four separate pieces of laboratory equipment: five LFA 467 HT units, five STA 449 F3 & QMS Mass Spec units, and five TMA 402 F1 units. Services include unlimited service visits (travel, parts, and labor), annual software upgrades, annual preventative maintenance with calibration, in-house repair capabilities at Netzsch's Massachusetts facility, and a 15% discount on consumables. Coverage includes DSC cells and sensors, heating elements, furnaces, balance systems, laser rods, thermocouples, TEC elements, load cells, and one manufactured accessory per unit. The contract term runs for five years with no renewal options. Place of performance includes USREL (administrative oversight and equipment location) and Netzsch's Massachusetts facility (in-house repairs).

The estimated contract value is $278,502.50 for the five-year service agreement, plus $20,000 for additional consumables. Freight is prepaid at no cost (F.O.B. Destination). Payment terms are net within 30 days of invoice.

Interested vendors may submit documented challenges to the single-source determination during the public comment period. All challengers must certify compliance with Utah Code 63G-27 et seq., confirming non-participation in economic boycotts or boycotts of Israel. The Division of Purchasing retains authority to determine whether valid challenges exist and whether to proceed with the award or conduct a standard procurement process.