FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ANNOUNCEMENT:  SPECIAL NOTICE

SUBJECT:  Bruker Nano Inc. Premium Care Support Program for Maintenance of Bruker Icon Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB731070-20-02172

CONTACT POINTS: KAREN ARMSTRONG, Contracts Specialist (301) 975-3671;

KEITH BUBAR, Contracting Officer (301) 975-8329

DESCRIPTION: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with Bruker Nano Inc., of Tucson, AZ, to purchase a Premium Care Support Program for the Bruker Nano Surfaces (BNS) Manufactured Dimension Icon Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for a base period of one year followed by four (4) consecutive one-year option periods.

***** Sole source determination is based on the need for a maintenance program covering (1) Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), an instrument generating surface morphology/property with atomic resolution.  The use of this instrument is a crucial technique for accomplishing the projects in the Infrastructure Materials Group of Materials and Structural Systems Division at the NIST Engineering Laboratory. The service preventive maintenance and extended warranty service program is crucial for operation of the existing Bruker ICON AFM.  Because the AFM instrument operates continuously, this preventive maintenance and warranty helps it perform more efficiently with less down time.

Bruker Nano Inc. is the sole provider of the preventive maintenance and extended warranty service for the Bruker Dimension Icon AFM because the existing AFM system was manufactured by Bruker Nano Inc.  All hardware and software within the system are proprietary and copyrighted by Bruker Nano Inc. No other company can provide services that will satisfy this requirement.

Any repair or service on the existing Bruker ICON AFM by a 3rd party vendor would result in an unnecessary loss of this instrument's capability. This would result in the inability of the government to complete projects in EL's Net-Zero Energy, High Performance Building Program and Sustainable, High Performance Infrastructure Materials Program in the defined time frame.

*****The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811219 - Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance.

****** A determination by the Government whether to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

*****Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.  Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Karen Armstrong at [email protected].  All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at [email protected] no later than July 29, 2020 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.