This notice is being published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 5.101(a)(2) requiring the dissemination of information on proposed contract actions expected to exceed $15,000, but not expected to exceed $25,000. This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract to Precisionary Instruments and is not a request for competitive proposals. 

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.  Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures and at a dollar value less than the simplified acquisition threshold are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements.

Single-sole Source Determination:

The determination by the Government to make a single-sole source is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research, specifically the results of the market research concluded that this order is for a Compresstome vibratining microtome supplied by Precisionary Instruments. The Compresstome VF-310-0Z is a vibrating microtome for cutting tissue slices, similar to cryostats and vibratomes. This model comes with Auto Zero-Z technology, which removes Z-axis deflection by calibration during the manufacturing process. This means you never have to calibrate the slicer, and there is no shearing of tissue surfaces during sectioning! The VF-310-0Z can section both fixed and live tissues. It is fully automated with an ability to cut slices in 1 μm increments, and cuts tissue thicknesses ranging from 4 μm to 1000 μm. Market research only resulted in Precisionary Instruments as the supplier of this Vibrating Microtome with the specifications needed. A search of previous awards on the FPDS system displays that this is the only source for this equipment.

Specifications:

MFR# VF-310-0ZVM-BOS Quantity (1) Compresstome Vibrating Microtome (Tissue Slicer)

Training and Demonstration

MFR# VF-SK-VMCANAL  Quantity (1) Starter Kit

MFR# VF-GLAMP  Quantity (1) Compresstome Gooseneck Lamp

Closing Statement:

This notice is not a request for competitive proposals.  However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.  Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.  

52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (Aug 2020)

All responses must be received by July 18, 2021 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.  Responses may be submitted electronically to [email protected] NIDCR 6701 Democracy Blvd., DEM 1, Room 675 Bethesda, MD 20892  Attention: Jimmy Sanders.  Fax responses will not be accepted.

“All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.”