The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Savillex, Corporation, Minnetonka, Minnesota, for the purchase of PFA Teflon Jars with Recessed Lids. Sole Source determination is based on the following: The 180 mL and 15mL PFA Teflon jars with recessed lids are used in continuing research projects at NIST that began in 1987 during the development of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (NBSB). The jars store tissues collected in the field for long-term archival (100+ years) and for contaminants analysis, both organic (PCB?s, PBDE?s, PAH?s, DDT?s, etc.) and inorganic (mercury, lead, arsenic, etc.) for all projects, including the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank, the Seabird Tissue Archival and Monitoring Project, the Health Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphins Project, and the American Peregrine Falcon Environmental Monitoring Project. The jars must be made from PFA Teflon to prevent the organic materials leaching from the jar into the sample. Since the beginning of the NBSB, NIST has tested samples that were stored in the Savillex PFA Teflon Jars over a period of years, and the samples have not been contaminated by the jars. One of the goals of the NBSB is to provide samples that are collected and banked in a systematic and well documented manner for comparing results over time to identify whether environmental trends exist. Therefore, NIST must use the same Teflon jars since the data proves that the jars to do not contaminate the samples. Savillex Corporation is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the PFA Teflon Jars that is required to satisfy the Government?s minimum requirements. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, and the size standard is 500 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, the Government will consider responses received by March 26, 2008, 3:30 p.m. EST. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition 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 a competitive procurement.

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