Intent to Sole Source Service Agreement for Hamilton Equipment

This is notice of intent to award to Hamilton Company (UEI: LD1MPMMCBWJ9) for one‑year Premium Plus Service Agreement for Hamilton NGS MOA STAR Workstation, SN AB03. 

In accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) FAR 12.102 (a), the following documents the decision to restrict competition for this acquisition. 

Mission Area and Contracting Activity. 

Requesting Activity Agency:

USDA APHIS PPQ S&T Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (PPCDL)

9901 Powder Mill Rd.

Laurel, MD 20708

Contracting Activity:

USDA, APHIS, MRPBS, AAMD

Office of Contracting and Procurement

250 Marquette Ave

Ste 410,

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Brief Description of Supplies or Services

This procurement is for the purchase of a one‑year Premium Plus Service Agreement for Hamilton NGS MOA STAR Workstation, SN AB03.

The Hamilton NGS MOA STAR Workstation is a critical component of Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (PPCDL)’s molecular diagnostic workflows. It integrates standardized hardware, software, and method programming, and offers the largest repertoire of biologically validated methods for streamlined setup and implementation. This instrument directly supports PPCDL’s confirmatory diagnostics mission. Ensuring the workstation is maintained in optimal operating condition is essential to preserving the reliability and integrity of PPCDL operations.

Premium Plus Service Agreement Includes:

• Priority dispatch for contract customers
• A target response time of 24 hours for a down instrument
• A guaranteed response time of 48 hours for a down instrument
• A guaranteed call back time of 4 hours
• Parts, travel, and labor costs

The agreement will include one PM and one verification services.

Justification for Restricting Competition and the Basis for that Decision.

A. Explain the unique qualifications/characteristics of the proposed contractor or product and why no other contractor or product/service can meet the Government's need. 

PPCDL operates under the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, which requires that all equipment maintenance and calibration services be performed either by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or by an ISO‑accredited service provider. Non‑compliance with this requirement would jeopardize PPCDL’s accreditation status and impair the laboratory’s ability to carry out its federally mandated confirmatory diagnostic responsibilities.

Hamilton is the manufacturer of the Hamilton NGS MOA STAR Workstation and the sole provider of the instrument’s proprietary software and firmware. Servicing the workstation through third‑party vendors would present significant risks, as those vendors may not have access to the Hamilton‑specific factory software required to reset internal calibrations or perform essential firmware updates. In addition, third‑party providers often lack access to genuine Hamilton replacement components, such as O‑rings, stop disks, and channels, and may rely on aftermarket or harvested parts, which could compromise instrument performance and reliability.

For these reasons, Hamilton is the only service provider capable of meeting the technical, compliance, and quality requirements necessary to maintain the instrument under ISO/IEC 17025.

B. Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted.  ​​​​​​​

Market research was not conducted because the instrument requires manufacturer‑specific software, calibration tools, and proprietary components that are available exclusively through Hamilton. Third‑party vendors do not have access to the Hamilton factory firmware, calibration utilities, or genuine replacement parts. Maintaining compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 also requires that all service and calibration activities be performed by the original equipment manufacturer or an ISO‑accredited provider with OEM authorization. Because Hamilton is the sole qualified provider, additional market research was unnecessary.