NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Formulatrix F.A.S.T. Serivce Agreement

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with Formulatrix, LLC (VMDJG4U9PBN6), 5 Deangelo Drive, Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730-2203, United States. The sole source justification is based on the following:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Biosystems and Biomaterials Division (BBD) is focused on developing cutting-edge capabilities in laboratory automation to enable measurement assurance for cell-free expression (CFE) systems towards biomanufacturing, rapid prototyping in engineering biology, and scale-up.

In support of this effort, NIST acquired a Formulatrix F.A.S.T. small-volume liquid handler in October 2022. To ensure that NIST continues to meet its mission requirements, a service agreement for maintenance and repair of the Formulatrix F.A.S.T. small-volume liquid handler (Serial# FAST-00057) is needed to support the continued development of reproducible and high throughput quantitative assays for CFE reagent quality and reaction performance.

The service contract will ensure critical long-term performance and reliability of the Formulatrix F.A.S.T. small volume liquid handler, inspection of electronics, updates of firmware and related software licenses, calibration of stuck tip and tip detection, and gravimetric verification of liquid handling accuracy.

Failing to procure a service for the existing Formulatrix F.A.S.T. small volume liquid handler (1) will undermine existing capabilities to support the metrology in cell-free expression program at NIST, (2) will prevent NIST from making the required rapid measurements, particularly of transcription and translation rates, and composition, during assay development and (3) will jeopardize the success of planned projects designed to develop metrics and standards for cell-free expression systems.

Forumaltrix is the sole distributor of any maintenance contract(s) and parts manufacturer for the Formulatrix F.A.S.T. small-volume liquid handler. Formulatrix LLC has provided a signed letter stating that they are the sole distributor of Formulatrix F.A.S.T service agreements. Therefore, we require the procurement of a Formulatrix service plan for the Formulatrix F.A.S.T. instrument via sole source from Formulatrix LLC. The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order.

The NAICS Code is 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a size standard of $34M. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 10:00 am EST August 19, 2024, will be considered by the Government.

Responses must be submitted via email to the Government point of contacts listed below. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition 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 a competitive procurement.