The USDA, ARS, MSA intends to award a sole source procurement to Waters Technologies, 34 Maple St., Milford, MA 01757, as they are the sole source for the Acquity UPLC with mass spectrometer located at the Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, Thad Cochran Research Center, University, MS 38677, is the manufacturer of this UPLC. The UPLC will be packaged by Waters Corporation, who has special and specific knowledge about the instrument to be decommissioned and reinstalled at the NPU location. The work to be done includes but is not limited to unpacking and the complete installation and confirmation of instrument function. Waters Corporation is the only source that has the unique qualifications required to complete the relocation of this equipment pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy agency Requirements. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price Purchase Order on or about February 25, 2013, using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:00PM central time, February 22, 2013. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via mail to the Contracting Officer at the following address:

Contracting Office Address:
USDA-ARS-WBSC
141 Experiment Station Road
Stoneville, MS. 38776-0225

Bid Protests Not Available