Agilent/BioTek Instrument Maintenance

1.0 DESCRIPTION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation No. 75N98026Q01228 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Agilent/BioTek Instrument Maintenance.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), intends to procure, on a sole source basis, maintenance and calibration services for Agilent/BioTek temperature- and air-controlled automated microscopy systems from the manufacturer, Agilent Technologies Inc.

The NIDDK utilizes highly specialized Agilent/BioTek temperature- and air-controlled automated microscopy systems to support high-throughput sickle cell disease drug discovery. These instruments operate continuously and generate large volumes of imaging data used to identify and evaluate potential therapeutic compounds. Due to the complexity and continuous operation of these systems, routine preventative maintenance and calibration are required to maintain proper functionality, performance, and reliability and to support the integrity of the imaging data generated during ongoing research activities.

The Government intends to procure a maintenance service plan on a sole-source basis from Agilent Technologies Inc. The required services include preventative maintenance and calibration performed by qualified personnel in accordance with manufacturer specifications; unlimited telephone support for hardware, software, and instruments; repair services performed by Agilent Certified Engineers; labor and travel costs associated with services performed at the National Institutes of Health; consumables required for repairs and preventative maintenance; Agilent Certified Parts; one preventative maintenance visit per year for each instrument; applicable instrument updates provided during the preventative maintenance visit; and the Agilent service guarantee. The contractor shall perform scheduled preventative maintenance and calibration, including inspection, cleaning, adjustment, and performance verification to ensure proper operation of the equipment.

The NIDDK conducted market research to identify potential sources capable of meeting the Government's technical and operational requirements. Based on the market research conducted, Agilent Technologies Inc. was the only source identified as capable of providing the complete combination of manufacturer-specific maintenance, calibration, repair, technical support, certified personnel, certified parts, consumables, instrument updates, and service guarantee required for the Agilent/BioTek systems. The required maintenance and calibration services require specialized knowledge of the equipment and access to manufacturer-defined procedures, proprietary diagnostics and software tools, manufacturer-approved parts, and applicable calibration protocols. Agilent provides manufacturer-compliant service using Agilent Certified Engineers and Agilent Certified Parts and is able to provide the required preventative maintenance, calibration, repair, technical support, and service guarantee. Use of non-authorized service providers may result in improper calibration, reduced instrument performance, and potential data integrity issues. Accordingly, based on the market research conducted, Agilent Technologies Inc. was the only source identified as capable of satisfying the Government's requirements.

The contractor shall provide a firm-fixed-price maintenance service plan for the Agilent/BioTek temperature- and air-controlled automated microscopy systems identified in the Government's requirement. The contractor shall provide preventative maintenance and calibration services in accordance with manufacturer specifications and shall perform one preventative maintenance visit per year for each instrument. Services shall include inspection, cleaning, adjustment, calibration, performance verification, and applicable instrument updates. The contractor shall provide unlimited telephone support for hardware, software, and instruments; repairs performed by Agilent Certified Engineers; all required labor and travel to the National Institutes of Health; consumables used for repairs and preventative maintenance; and Agilent Certified Parts for any required repairs.

This RFQ is being posted to the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) in accordance with RFO FAR 5.201. This acquisition will be conducted in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, using the simplified procedures at RFO FAR 12.201-1. The Government will evaluate the services provided by the contractor to ensure conformity with the purchase order requirements. The Project Officer, Alternate Project Officer, or Project Officer Supervisor will monitor and review performance, and invoices will be reviewed and approved by the Project Officer and/or Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

Period of Performance: September 25, 2026 through September 24, 2027

Service Location: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

The applicable NAICS code is 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance. The applicable PSC is J066 – Maintenance/Repair/Rebuild of Equipment—Instruments and Laboratory Equipment.

Please see the attached requirements document titled “75N98026Q01228 – Requirements Document” for additional information.

2.0 UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR

The proposed contractor, Agilent Technologies Inc., is the manufacturer of the Agilent/BioTek instruments requiring the maintenance and calibration services used by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to support high-throughput sickle cell disease drug discovery. The required services involve specialized maintenance and calibration activities necessary to maintain the functionality, performance, and reliability of these continuously operating systems. The service plan includes preventative maintenance and calibration by qualified personnel in accordance with manufacturer specifications, unlimited telephone support for hardware, software, and instruments, repairs performed by Agilent Certified Engineers, Agilent Certified Parts, required labor and travel, consumables used for repairs and preventative maintenance, applicable instrument updates, and the Agilent service guarantee.

The Agilent/BioTek systems are specialized research instruments that operate continuously and generate large volumes of imaging data used to identify and evaluate potential therapeutic compounds. Routine preventative maintenance, calibration, inspection, cleaning, adjustment, and performance verification are required to maintain proper operation and support the reliability and integrity of the imaging data generated by the instruments. The required services involve specialized knowledge of the Agilent/BioTek systems, manufacturer-defined maintenance and calibration procedures, proprietary diagnostics and software tools, and access to Agilent-approved parts and consumables. Use of an alternate service provider could result in improper maintenance or calibration, reduced instrument performance, and potential impacts to ongoing research activities and data integrity. Based on the market research conducted to identify qualified sources, Agilent Technologies Inc. was the only source identified as capable of providing the complete combination of manufacturer-specific preventative maintenance, calibration, certified repair personnel, certified parts, technical support, required travel and labor, consumables, instrument updates, and service guarantee necessary to meet the Government's requirements.

BASIS FOR AWARD

The Government intends to issue a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Agilent Technologies Inc. However, all timely quotations received will be considered. To be considered for award, a quotation must demonstrate that the services offered satisfy all the Government's technical and operational requirements identified in this RFQ and the attached requirements document. Award will be made to the responsible organization whose quotation satisfies the Government's requirements and whose price is determined fair and reasonable.

RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

This is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial services issued in accordance with the simplified procedures of RFO FAR Part 12. The Government intends to award a purchase order on a sole-source basis to Agilent Technologies Inc. based on the Government's determination that Agilent Technologies Inc. is the only source identified as capable of satisfying the Government's requirements. However, all responsible sources may submit a quotation that demonstrates their ability to satisfy the complete requirements identified in this RFQ and the attached requirements document. All timely quotations will be considered by the Government.

The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM) to determine whether the respondent can fulfill the requirement. Quotations shall identify the services being offered, manufacturer, applicable service plan or contract information, period of performance, pricing, service schedule, qualifications of personnel, availability of manufacturer-certified engineers and parts, technical support capabilities, and sufficient technical information to demonstrate that the services offered satisfy all of the Government's technical and operational requirements identified in the attached requirements document.

All responses must be sent via email to Contract Specialist, Jordan Neal, at Jordan.Neal@nih.gov, copying Contracting Officer, Alice Pagán Pereira, at Alice.Pagan@nih.gov by no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Monday, September 21, 2026.

To be eligible for award, the contractor must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM.gov) in accordance with applicable requirements. Reference: 75N98026Q01228 on all correspondence.