Thermo Electron - Sole Source

The City of Salem, Oregon, located in Marion County, is pursuing a sole-source procurement for maintenance and support of laboratory atomic absorption equipment from Thermo Electron North America. This procurement is structured as a 5-year renewable contract with an annual value of $3,600. The contract specifically covers ongoing maintenance and support services for specialized scientific equipment used in municipal laboratory operations. The procurement follows a sole-source method, indicating that Thermo Electron is the only qualified vendor capable of providing these specific maintenance services. The public notice was posted on March 21, 2024, with a response deadline of March 27, 2024. Potential vendors or interested parties who wish to protest the sole-source designation must submit a written protest that meets specific criteria and includes a $500 processing fee. The procurement process requires detailed documentation and strict adherence to the protest guidelines outlined in the public notice.

The sole-source procurement appears to be unrestricted in terms of vendor type, with no explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises mentioned in the documentation. The contract is specifically with Thermo Electron North America, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, suggesting they are both the incumbent and proposed vendor. The total contract value over the 5-year period is estimated at $18,000, with annual renewals contingent on satisfactory performance. No specific integration requirements with existing infrastructure are detailed in the available documentation. The procurement is limited to maintenance and support services for atomic absorption laboratory equipment, indicating a highly specialized technical requirement that restricts potential competition. The $500 protest fee suggests a structured process for challenging the sole-source determination, which provides a mechanism for potential alternative vendors to seek reconsideration of the procurement method.