The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisition (OA) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Eksigent Technologies LLC, 5875 Arnold Rd, Suite 300, Dublin, CA 94568-3167 for a NanoLC Ultra 2D System with a corresponding Autosampler (NanoLC Ultra AS-2) with the following specifications:

- NanoLC-Ultra 2D System. Dual gradient pump: 1-10 ul/min for gradient 1, 50-500 nl/min for gradient 2. Max pressure 10,000psi. Temperature controlled column compartment w/one 10 port column switching valve. Includes Nano-LC start-up kit (p/n 801-00043) and Eksigent control software.
- NanoLC-AS2 autosampler. 10,000psi 6 port injection valve (1/32" connections). Two microtiter plate or 96 sample vials capacity; cooled sample compartment.
- Nano-LC system installation and training (2 days).

The sole source determination is based on the fact that the Proteomics Core Facility supports DIR investigators by providing proteomic data generation and analysis for their research. It is very important to have state of the art equipment in the facility to develop new methods and analyses. Eksigent's NanoLC Ultra 2D System with a corresponding autosampler has a dual gradient pump with maximum operating pressure up to 10,000psi. This high pressure is very important for optimal separation of peptides that are obtained from many different samples provided to the NHLBI Proteomics Core Facility. This is one of the advantages of Eksigent's system compared to others. Three other Eksigent systems are currently in the lab that are coupled to other mass spectrometers. The new system will be easy to operate since the lab is already familiar with the software.

The delivery point is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), 10 Center Drive, Bldg 10 8th Floor, Room 8C103C, Bethesda, MD 20892.

The notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and is a small business set aside. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-42 (June 16, 2010).

Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis by July 9, 2010 at 7:30am Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurement.

Inquiries to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-PB-(HL)-2010-209-JML, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, Procurement Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6149, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jonathan Lear. Responses may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative.