NOTICE OF INTENT TO Purchase of an IX-73 Microscope with motorized stage Sole Source

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE Purchase of an IX-73 microscope with motorized stage Announcement No.:SS_1117986 The Government hereby submits a notice of intent to award a sole source firm fixed price to purchase an IX-73 microscope with motorized stage by Evident Scientific, which is the only company that can provide service, support, parts/accessories, and service for this and our other existing Olympus instruments.

The Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Laboratory desires a high-quality microscope configured for brightfield, phase contrast, and fluorescence viewing (to include long working distance objectives for Z-stack assemblage of thick tissue sections). It should possess completely motorized stage and focus, be compatible with existing Olympus microscope resources (nosepiece objectives, filter cubes, etc.) and come fully serviced with a warranty.

The requirement for compatibility with existing NWRC’s substantial inventory of imaging accessories and adapters limits sourcing to Olympus vendors. Olympus America, Inc. is the only company that can provide all the necessary OEM parts and perform all the necessary returns and repairs for the Olympus scopes and associated equipment at NWRC.

In an effort to provide ‘Standardization of Supplies and Equipment Procedures’, it is the policy of the Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WDDL) to standardize to the maximum extent possible the types and categories of supplies and equipment WDDL purchases, consistent with diagnostic analysis and wildlife research needs. Standardization is expected to facilitate best-value product pricing through volume purchasing and facilitate the delivery of high-quality diagnostics to the WDDL.

CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS Purchase of a high-quality microscope configured for brightfield, phase contrast, and fluorescence viewing (to include long working distance objectives for Z-stack assemblage of thick tissue sections). It should possess completely motorized stage and focus, be compatible with existing Olympus microscope resources at NWRC (nosepiece objectives, filter cubes, etc.), and come fully serviced with a warranty. Must include an air-table for stabilization of imaging.

The period of performance for this effort will be a 1 base periods. Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing This procurement is being conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1The statutory authority is 41 U.S.C. 253(c )(1) The property or services needed by the executive agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the executive agency.

And 6.302-1 (ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in- (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. 41 U.S.C.

3304(b)(2).)g evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and would not hinder the mission objective of the national solid waste recycling measurement initiative. The determination not to compete this proposed contract action is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice. This is NOT a request for quotes or proposals. Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to Contracting Officer, Latisha Hollman, at latisha.a.hollman@usda.gov via e-mail only (no phone calls/voice mail messages regarding questions will not be accepted and will not receive a response). Please indicate in the subject of your email: Notice of Intent Question Submission – REQ 1117986