MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACT FOR TITAN HALO ELECTRON MICROSCOPE SYSTEM

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS

 THIS IS A SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT, NOT A RFQ.  The intent of this notice is to inform the vendor community of the National Institutes of Health of the proposed contract action. This proposed procurement is to provide preventative maintenance and service as necessary in order to keep the TFS/FEI Titan Halo TEM System operating within the GLP standards, preventing problems and downtime, and minimizing the impact of a broken instrument for the researchers who rely on it. With over two million dollars invested in this advanced and intricate instrumentation, and considering the proprietary technology involved in both the hardware and software that controls it, the maintenance of the electron microscope requires a very specialized and experienced contractor. The contractor will provide repair and preventative maintenance (PM) services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the AIC, located in the NIH/NIDCD. The primary objective is to initiate and retain coverage under a maintenance service contract with PM service for NIDCD’s TFS/FEI Titan Halo TEM and associated components that includes parts/labor/materials, maximizes performance and uptime, and ensures acquisition of the highest quality data attainable.

The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1.  This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes.  However, interested parties may identify and express their interest and capability to respond to the requirement no later than December 28th,   at 10:00 AM, EST.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

The National Institutes of Health, Advanced Imaging Core (AIC), National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)  intends to award a sole source contract with Thermo Fisher Scientific/FEI Co., based on FAR 6.302-1 Only one Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements.  The purpose of this procurement is to retain maintenance service contract coverage for NIDCD’s Titan Halo transmission electron microscope system. All questions and/or responses must be directed by email to holleyv@od.nih.gov.  Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.