66 -- ESSENTIAL SUPPORT PLAN

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Marketing Service, Science and Technology division, National Science Laboratory, plans to negotiate a sole-source contract with Thermo Electron Corporation for maintenance and emergency support of two Thermo Electron TSQ MS/MS high-performance triple stage instruments. This contract is intended to ensure the continuous proper functioning and warranty compliance of these specialized instruments by utilizing certified Thermo Electron technicians and original parts. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 811219, with a size standard of $6.5 million, and will be conducted using FAR Part 12 commercial procedures without competitive bidding. The contract, titled "66 -- ESSENTIAL SUPPORT PLAN," was posted on December 7, 2006, through the USDA office in Minneapolis, MN. The solicitation makes clear that the decision not to compete this contract is at the sole discretion of the government based on responses to this notice. The designated purchasing agent for this procurement is Jayne Mm Frommes, who can be contacted through the provided email and phone number. This sole-source approach reflects the necessity of using manufacturer-certified service to maintain the integrity and performance of the specialized instrumentation critical to the laboratory’s scientific operations.