Notice of Intent: Biotage Systems Maintenance Services for the National Center for Translational Sciences (NCATS)

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT NON-COMPETITIVE

SOLICITATION NUMBER

75N95022Q00138

TITLE

Biotage Systems Maintenance Services for the National Center for Translational Sciences (NCATS)  

CLASSIFICATION CODE

J066 Maintenance and Repair of Instruments and Laboratory Equipment

NAICS CODE

811219 Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

RESPONSE DATE

March 23, 2022

PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

Nick Niefeld

Contract Specialist

nick.niefeld@nih.gov

(301) 827-2094

DESCRIPTION

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

On behalf of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Office of Acquisition (OA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Biotage to provide an updated Maintenance and Service agreement on option period 3 (year 4)  and the subsequent option period 4 (year 5) for the following equipment as a third robot is to be added to Initiator Part #SER-IP-SAP, Serial #12427:

• Alstra (Part #SER-IA-SAP, Serial #00188)
• Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP60-SAP, Serial #13020)
• Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP60-SAP, Serial #12714)
• Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP-SAP, Serial #12427) (60+ robot added to this initiator for this current option period to be exercised and the subsequent option period).
• Initiator60 EXP (Part #SER-IC60-SAP, Serial#11676)
• Initiator60 EXP (Part #SER-IC60-SAP, Serial #11402)
• V-10 Touch-Gilson (Part #SER-V10T-SAP, Serial #V101807652)
• V-10 Liquid handler (Part #SER-V10LH-SAP, Serial #261L8N235)

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 811219 Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a Size Standard of $22M.

This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses, but rather is a sole-source acquisition to Biotage.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2022-04 dated January 30, 2022.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is a part of the National

Institutes of Health (NIH), which mission it is to catalyze the generation of innovative methods

and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics

and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions.

The NCATS Chemistry group requires a maintenance agreement for the Biotage microwave

systems. This agreement will cover any service situations that arise on this highly used and

important equipment currently in use by the NCATS Chemistry teams. This requested

agreement will eliminate the amount of down time we will experience when there are any

performance issues. The Biotage Initiator microwaves are integral pieces of equipment in the

synthesis of small molecules as biological probes. Since, the system is automated, the

experimentalist has the ability to multi-task. NCATS is requesting that the manufacturer of this

equipment provides this necessary service since the vendor will have not only the technical

expertise, but the parts as well to minimize the down time during system failures. Biotage does

not have any agreements with other vendors to provide the support or parts needed to repair

Biotage units. As such a third robot is required to be added to Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP-SAP, Serial #12427) for this option period and option period 4.

The agreement is to ensure instrumentations remain operational and perform in accordance with its original equipment manufacturers operational specifications. Contractor shall provide all labor, material, and equipment for preventative maintenance.

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The anticipated period of performance is:

6/1/2022 to 5/31/2023 (Option Period 3, year 4)

6/1/2023 to 5/31/2024 (Option Period 4, year 5)

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

NCATS

9800 Medical Center Dr

Building B, Room 201

Rockville, MD 20850

CONTRACT TYPE

A firm-fixed price type contract is planned for this acquisition, consistent with commercial practices.

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. Specifically, Biotage is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the products required by the NCATS.

Biotage, as the authorized provider of the microwave systems and peptide synthesizer system as listed below:

• Alstra (Part #SER-IA-SAP, Serial #00188)
• Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP60-SAP, Serial #13020)
• Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP60-SAP, Serial #12714)
• Initiator60+ (Part #SER-IP-SAP, Serial #12427) (60+ robot added to this initiator for this current option period to be exercised and the subsequent option period).
• Initiator60 EXP (Part #SER-IC60-SAP, Serial#11676)
• Initiator60 EXP (Part #SER-IC60-SAP, Serial #11402)
• V-10 Touch-Gilson (Part #SER-V10T-SAP, Serial #V101807652)
• V-10 Liquid handler (Part #SER-V10LH-SAP, Serial #261L8N235)

Biotage is the only contractor authorized and capable of providing the necessary repair and support services on the microwave systems and peptide synthesizer systems listed above because the equipment is proprietary. Biotage is the only source for factory trained and certified technicians to provide these services and to maintain and service the equipment.

Only Biotage is capable of providing the support services because the equipment is proprietary to this company, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Biotage does not authorize any other contractors to perform this work. Use of any other contractor would jeopardize system functionality by risking hardware and software standards. This is turn would jeopardize the NCATS ongoing research studies which would be unacceptable for continuity of science. Accordingly, Biotage is the only contractor capable of meeting the needs of this requirement. Furthermore, use of any other contractor for the system would void equipment warranties and jeopardize system integrity and functionality.

Only an OEM-authorized service provider has access to the latest services and support information. Replacement parts or accessories must be compatible with the existing equipment, and only Biotage can certify compatibility. An OEM-authorized service provider is the only source with direct access to these parts and labor.

Biotage is the only source authorized by the OEM to provide the parts, supplies, and services for this equipment. Because of the significant investment by NCATS in the purchase of this equipment, using an OEM-Authorized Service Provider is essential for maintaining the integrity of the system.

The intended source is:

Company Name:         Biotage           

Address:                      10430 Harris Oaks Blvd, Ste C

Charlotte, NC 28269

DUNS:                         044611148

CLOSING STATEMENT

This Notice of Intent to Award on a Sole-Source Basis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

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

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. All responses must provide evidence that they can provide the services that meets all of the requirements in this announcement.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95022Q00138. Responses must be submitted electronically to Nick Niefeld, Contract Specialist, at nick.niefeld@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.