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

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source noncompetitive basis to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, One Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, NY, 10594 to provide maintenance service support to the SIGMA-VP scanning electron microscope

PROCUREMENT:

The contractor will provide maintenance services to the SIGMA-VP scanning electron microscope located in the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB).

BACKGROUND:

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) aims to improve health by leading the development and accelerating the application of biomedical technologies. NIBIB supports research and development of new biomedical imaging and bioengineering techniques and devices to fundamentally improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of disease; enhancing existing imaging and bioengineering modalities; supporting related research in the physical and mathematical sciences; encouraging research and development in multidisciplinary areas; supporting studies to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of new biologics, materials, processes, devices, and procedures; developing technologies for early disease detection and assessment of health status; and developing advanced imaging and engineering techniques for conducting biomedical research at multiple scales.

The Intramural Research Program (IRP) plays a key role in fulfilling the Institute's mission, particularly to advance knowledge in imaging and bioengineering research using a combination of basic, translational, and clinical science and to develop effective training programs in related fields. All of the NIBIB laboratories are located on the NIH campus. Click on the below links to learn more about their research programs and resources.

The laboratory requires maintenance services on its SIGMA-VP scanning electron microscope to continue its research efforts.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE:

The contractor will provide maintenance services to the SIGMA-VP scanning electron microscope located in the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB).

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Base: July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016
Option Period 1: July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017
Option Period 2: July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018
Option Period 3: July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019

JUSTIFICATION:

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10-Market Research.

No other vendor is able to provide maintenance services with the specialized knowledge and training to perform the required maintenance services on the SIGMA-VP scanning electron microscope.

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, 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 Small Business Size Standard is $20.5 Million. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

The solicitation document, the incorporated provisions and clauses are those in the Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-82, effective June 8, 2015.

The determination by the Government to award a purchase order on a sole source noncompetitive basis to provide maintenance services to the SIGMA-VP scanning electron microscope to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, One Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, NY, 10594, is based upon the market research conducted in accordance with one or more of the techniques specified in FAR Part 10-Market Research, Subpart 10.002(b)(2).

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 June 23, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. EST. Responses must reference synopsis number HHS-NIH-NHLBI-CSB-HI-2015-144-CDB, may be submitted to the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Rm 6207, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Chris Bocus. Response may be submitted electronically to chris.bocus@ nih.gov. 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."