The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), on behalf of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Thermo Electron North America, 1400 N Point Parkway, Suite 10, West Palm Beach, FL 33407-1976 for the following equipment:

- Orbitor Promo - Cyt 2C, Acumen, BCR, & Table
- Momentum Software and Associated Drivers

The National Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) currently has an Acumen Explorer which is a reader that is widely used in the laboratory for the many cell based assays run at the NCGC. The additional items are needed to complete the automated plate reading station for the Acumen Explorer. The Momentum Software will allow the associated pieces of equipment to be integrated and communicate with one another. The Orbitor mover will take the plates from the incubator, remove the lid, and load the plate into the Acumen reader. The completed automated system will greatly reduce the amount of time as opposed to the biologist manually loading each plate.

The sole source determination is based on the fact that the NCGC already has the Acumen Explorer in house and due to compatibility, these additional items are necessary to be provided by Thermo Electron. They will also provide integration and installation services with training by the integrator to the NCGC.

The delivery point is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), Bethesda, MD 20892.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the associated small business size standard is 500. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures; therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-44 (July 8, 2010). However, this solicitation is not set aside for small businesses.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis by September 8, 2010 at 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract 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 future competitive procurements.

Inquiries to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-PB-(HG)-2010-324-JML, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, Procurement Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6151, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jonathan Lear. 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.