This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SSN). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Responses to this sources sought announcement will assist the Government in determining whether or not any future requirement(s) similar to this one should be set aside for small business or made available to full and open competition. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811219 - Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance; Small Business Size Standard is $19.0 in millions of dollars.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Background:

Researchers and Scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Arkansas Research Laboratory (ARL), utilize a variety of high-precision balances to process regulatory samples. These balances must be calibrated yearly by an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 accredited calibration laboratory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_17025).

Objectives:

An ISO 17025 accredited service provider shall provide the following calibration services in support of the balances currently in use at ARL (see the attached listing for detailed information on all balances requiring calibration - file name: ARL Balance Inventory.pdf):

• Full cosmetic cleaning of both exterior and interior surfaces;
• Linearity testing at four points with adjustments as needed;
• Measurement of uncertainty;
• Off center load testing and adjustment;
• Reproducibility testing; and
• Lubrication and adjustment of internal parts and drive motors.

In addition, the following documentation shall be provided upon completion of the above calibration services:

• Calibration labels that indicate when the next calibration is due for each piece of calibrated instrumentation;
• Certificate of calibration including the Measurement of Uncertainty for each unit; and
• ISO 17025 Accreditation Certificate and Scope.

The above calibration services shall be conducted "on site" at the ARL facility (see place of performance below)-shipping instruments is not acceptable.

Place of Performance:

FDA/ORA/ARL
3900 NCTR Rd.
Jefferson, AR 72079

Period of Performance:

The Calibration Service Agreement is for a one (1)-year base period, plus four (4) one (1)-year option periods.

Interested Contractors must respond with capability statements to include information regarding the following: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training/certifications; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. References provided should be within the last three (3) years.

Potential contractors must indicate DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code.

Capability statements are due in person, by postal mail or email to the point of contact (POC) listed below on or before December 13, 2013, by 1200 hours (Central Standard Time in Jefferson, Arkansas), at the FDA, Office of Acquisitions & Grants Services, Attn: James "Scott" Rawls, 3900 NCTR Road, HFT-320, Jefferson, AR 72079-9502 or email [email protected]. Reference FDA-14-223-1127634. Questions or requests for clarification pertaining to this SSN shall be submitted to the above POC on or before December 11, 2013, by 1200 hours (Central Standard Time in Jefferson, Arkansas).

Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Bid Protests Not Available