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

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to EMD Millipore Corporation, 290 Concord Rd, Billerica, MA 01821-3405, to provide maintenance services on the Amnis ImageStreamX System located in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Flow Cytometry Core.

BACKGROUND

The Flow Cytometry Core of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) functions as a service facility within the NHLBI's Division of Intramural Research (DIR). It performs flow cytometric analysis and sorting services and utilizes highly sophisticated instrumentation known as fluorescence activated cell sorters. These instruments are highly valuable and, due to their wide use among DIR investigators, often require repair and regular preventative maintenance. It is vital to the mission of the DIR to maintain full capability of all instrumentation in the Flow Cytometry Core.

PURPOSE

The Flow Cytometry Core is in need of EMD Millipore Corporation's Service Total Plan to secure regular maintenance services for its Amnis ImageStreamX System (S/N: ISX111). A Service Total Plan maintenance contract is needed for this system to provide not only timely maintenance but also speedy repair, thus maximizing uptime and productivity and ensuring uninterrupted services to the users.

PROCUREMENT

The contractor shall provide maintenance services including parts, labor, and consumables on the following equipment:

• Amnis ImageStreamX System (S/N: ISX111).

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Base Year: September 30, 2016 - September 29, 2017
Option Year 1: September 30, 2017 - September 29, 2018
Option Year 2: September 30, 2018 - September 29, 2019
Option Year 3: September 30, 2019 - September 29, 2020
Option Year 4: September 30, 2020 - September 29, 2021

JUSTIFICATION

The sole source determination is based on the fact that EMD Millipore is the manufacturer of this equipment and only the manufacturer is authorized to perform maintenance services or repair. No third parties have been authorized by EMD Millipore to provide these services on the equipment.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source (for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold) and only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 811219, Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, and the Small Business Size Standard is $20.5M. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001). The resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-88 (June 15th, 2016).

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 July 1, 2016 at 9:00AM EST and must reference synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HL)-2016-184-KMA. Responses shall be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6127, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Kevin Alvarez. 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. "All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency."