The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, under authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), with Thermo Electron North America, LLC. of West Palm Beach, Florida for the purchase of a Liquid Chromatographic System.

NIST cites FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements as primary rationale for Sole Source Determination.

Sole Source determination is based on the following: NIST Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory require a Liquid Chromatographic System that offers 5cm flow cells. Thermo Fisher Scientific is the only company able to increase the path length by 5 times and they hold the proprietary rights to the material used that allows 100% light transmission through the cell. Thermo is the sole manufacturer and distributor of HPLC detectors with 5cm flow cells. As a result, Thermo Fisher Scientific is uniquely qualified to satisfy the Government's minimum requirements.

Delivery shall be FOB Destination, Gaithersburg, MD, and be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule.

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, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 3:00 p.m. (EST) on April 21, 2010. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to [email protected]. No telephone requests will be honored.

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 in the future.

Bid Protests Not Available