The following represents the Notice of Intent that was approved by the Small Business Set-Aside Clearance form and posted on FedBizOpps.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to negotiate solely with BIOMERIEUX, INC., located at 100 RODOLPHE ST, Durham, NC 27712-9402, to obtain maintenance and service support of the following equipment that is currently being used:
 SAP System #:  VITEK 2 Compact 60  
 SAP System #:  VIDAS w/PC   
 SAP System #:  VITEK 2 Compact 30  
BIOMERIEUX, Inc. is the only known source which can provide the required service.  This procurement will be conducted under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.  Authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1). 

The equipment for this service agreement is located at:
Eastern Laboratory:  950 College Station Rd, Athens, GA 30605
FERN Laboratory:  950 College Station Rd, Suite 104, Athens, GA  30605
Midwestern Laboratory: 4300 Goodfellow Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63120.

The vendor shall send a technician to perform service within 1 to 2 business days of maintenance service. The vendor shall respond and perform service within 24 hours for emergency calls and provide services after regular business hours. This requirement is not for new service it's for continuous maintenance service on existing lab equipment and software that is currently under warranty.

The period of performance will be for one (1) base period plus four (4) additional 12 month option periods.  This is not a request for quotations or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation.  Request for copies of this solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged.  The Government does not intend to pay for information received.  All interested parties must respond within three (3) calendar days from the date of this notice.  Written responses must provide clear and concise documentation indicating your firm's capability to provide the proprietary maintenance services.  Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered.  When responding to this announcement, respondents should refer to announcement #795183.  If no viable responses have been received in response after Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 5:00 pm EST to this announcement, USDA/FSIS shall negotiate solely with BIOMERIEUX, Inc.