The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to FEI Company for software and hardware updates to a Tecnai G2 12 Electron Microscope

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a Size Standard of 500 employees.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05- 69 dated August 1, 2013.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($150,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Background
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Neurobiology of Relapse Section is interested in the ultrastructure of neurons involved in drugs of abuse and uses a Tecnai G2 12 Electron Microscope and electron microscopic images for this research.

Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this potential requirement is for software and hardware updates to ensure ideal performance of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Neurobiology of Relapse Section's Tecnai G2 12 Electron Microscope.

Period of Performance
It is anticipated that delivery and installation of the abovementioned products would be concluded within three weeks of a contract award. A firm fixed price award is anticipated.

Project Description
The supplier will provide a Tecnai PC and 3.x Software Upgrade Package 9, a Tecnai Software 4.x Upgrade Package, a 24" Monitor for Tecnai PC Upgrade, and upgrade installation for a Tecnai G2 12 Electron Microscope.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION
The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. The intended source is:

FEI Company
5350 NE Dawson Creek Drive
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124

FEI Company is the manufacturer of the Tecnai G2 12 Electron Microscope currently used by NIDA and FEI Company is the only U.S. supplier of theTecnai hardware and software required to service this microscope. The equipment is proprietary to FEI Company and no other vendor is authorized to license it for customers in the United States.

CLOSING STATEMENT
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 August 25, 2013 at 12:00 PM EST and must reference number HHS-NIH-NIDA- 2013-30394241. Responses may be submitted electronically to Lauren Phelps at [email protected] or by U.S. mail to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support Contracts and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, Attention: Lauren Phelps. Fax responses will not be accepted.

"All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency."