***NOAA Acquisition & Grants Office, Mountain Region Acquisition Division, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with FEI Company for continuation of preventative maintenance service contract for the SIRION400 Scanning Microscope.

***Sole Source determination is based on the National Institute of Standards and Technologys (NIST) requirement which can only be met by FEI Company due to proprietary service and warranty.

***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.  However, firms that believe they can provide equipment that fully meets the Governments requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis.  Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis.  A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the ggovernment.  Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.