One-year service/maintenance agreement chromatography (HPLC and UPLC) analysis instrument systems

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE **NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOI-NIAID-24-2213161 NAICS – 811210 This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for proposal. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis with Waters Technologies Corporation to procure a one-year service/maintenance agreement for NIAID-owned chromatography (HPLC and UPLC) analysis instrument systems.

POP: 05/20/2024 – 05/19/2025 The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a sole source requirement for the preventative maintenance and repair of NIAID-owned analysis instruments/equipment currently in place within the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology (LMIV) used in Malaria research. LMIV owns two High Performance Liquid Chromatography systems (HPLC) and three Ultra-high-performance Liquid Chromatography systems (UPLC).

These instruments are used by the Process Development group, the Conjugation group, and the Quality Control group. The instruments are used on a regular basis to analyze vaccine candidates for quality, purity, and solution state. LMIV has established protocols and data submitted to the FDA which supports the vaccine candidates using these instruments. LMIV continues to manufacture and test malaria vaccine conjugates in human populations.

Due to the highly specific and sensitive components found in these instruments, only parts from the manufacturer of Alliance, Arc and Acquity equipment (Waters Technologies Corp) can be used during a repair. This manufacturer does not sell or distribute the parts for this instrument to other vendors. Qualified, certified Waters trained service technicians required by NIAID to troubleshoot and repair the instruments and to perform the annual maintenance.

The statutory authority for this sole source requirement is 41 U.S.C. 1901 (e) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1 only one responsible source and no other supply of service will satisfy agency requirements. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

All responsible sources that could provide comparable services may submit a capability statement proving they meet all the specifications outlined via email (subject line to reference NOI-NIAID-24-2213161) to Dana Monroe at dana.monroe@nih.gov, by Monday, May 13, 2024 by 5:00pm eastern time. All responses received by the closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.