PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the Division of Intramural Research (DIR) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to Themro Electon North America LLC, 5225 Verona Road, Madison, WI 53711 for LTQ Orbitrap XL with ETD Maintenance.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 811219 with a Size Standard of $19.0 million.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-70.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($150,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

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 are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Background

The mission of the Proteomics Core at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is to support proteomic endeavors relevant to cardiovascular diseases undertaken by NHLBI investigators in the Division of Intramural Research. The Core maintains state-of-the-art mass spectrometers and HPLC systems, provides LCMS-based sample analyses, and trains scientists in sample preparation, instrument use, and data analysis.
The LTQ Orbitrap XL with ETD mass spectrometer in the lab is a critical component in carrying out the Core's mission. With its high resolution, high mass accuracy, and fast scanning rate, the LTQ Orbitrap XL with ETD is a major workhorse for high-throughput protein identification, post-translational modification characterization, and quantitative proteomics using SILAC and iTRAQ. It is heavily used by DIR investigators and trainees in pursuit of proteomics research projects. Highly sensitive and delicate in nature, this high-precision scientific instrument requires careful maintenance by specially trained engineers at regular intervals.

Purpose and Objectives

The objective of this procurement is to provide on-site maintenance for LTQ Orbitrap XL with ETD instrument. The LTQ Orbitrap XL with ETD is a highly sensitive and complex mass spectrometer, and requires expert maintenance and repair (when needed) by engineers who have received thorough, specialized training and have access to the patented and proprietary details of this scientific instrument. The need of a service contract is valuable to the government to provide not only timely maintenance but also speedy repair, thus maximizing uptime and productivity and ensuring uninterrupted services to the users.

Period of Performance

A fixed price purchase order for a one (1) year period of performance from the time of award.

Project Description

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, materials, supplies, equipment, and services (except as otherwise specified herein) to perform the work set forth below.

All work under this contract shall be monitored by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

The Contractor shall confirm or demonstrate the operations of the equipment according to the performance specifications.

Service shall include the following:

Essential Support Plan Features:

1. Unlimited number of demand on-site service visits with a maximum 72-hour response
2. Engineer labor and travel is included
3. Priority status for technical support inquiries
4. One (1) Scheduled Preventative Maintenance visit
5. Thermo Scientific supplied personal computers are covered
6. Factory-certified replacement parts included
7. Software updates and notifications
8. Subscription to e-Support Online Technical Resources
9. 10% discount on Institute based or on-site Trainings purchased during the contract validity period. Application or method development courses are excluded.

Government Responsibilities:

The NHLBI will make a good faith effort to make The Equipment available and accessible to the Contractor, and to convey diagnostic and error messages to facilitate service. The NHLBI will make a good faith effort to operate the Equipment according to manufacturer specifications.

Upon contractor completion of service and/or maintenance, the Project Officer will determine the technical adequacy of the work performed to ensure that contract standards and specifications are met.

Reporting Requirements:

The Contractor shall provide a written summary report of the services provided at the conclusion of each unscheduled visit and each preventive maintenance service rendered. The Service Summary Report shall include a time-to-response, a summary of the problem, a summary of the service(s) performed, and the corrective action taken, a summary of the parts, and a quality assurance statement certifying that the system, referred to as The Equipment, is fully operational.

Inspection and Acceptance:

Operabililty of The Equipment is to be inspected and approved by the COR upon contractor completion of service and/or maintenance. These inspections will be completed within one (1) business day of service completion. The COR will assure that the Equipment is maintained at Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards and at a minimum of 95% operating condition.

A review of the services provided in the Statement of Work will be conducted annually by the COR.

Deliverables:

Item No.: 1

Description: Service Summary Report

Quantity: 1

Delivery Schedule: Report is due upon completion of each unscheduled services visit and each preventive maintenance service rendered

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the Sole/Single Source Justification that is attached to this Notice of Intent.

Only Thermo Electron North America LLC has the proprietary knowledge and trained service personnel to provide service for this mass spectrometer. In addition, only Thermo Electron North America LLC can modify the proprietary software that runs the mass spectrometer. There is no other company that can provide service and repair for these mass spectrometers.

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis 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 contract 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.

All responses must be received by 3:30 PM EASTERN TIME November 25, 2013 and must reference number NHLBI-CSB-HL-2014-14-JEF. Responses may be submitted electronically to Jenn Frazier at [email protected] or by U.S. mail to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch,6701 Rockledge Drive, 6121A, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902, Attention: Jenn Frazier. Fax responses will not be accepted.

Bid Protests Not Available