Bio-Rad QX One Instrument Maintenance Contract

This is a presolicitation notice for a sole source maintenance contract for the Bio-Rad QX One Droplet Digital PCR System, located at the USDA APHIS PPQ S&T Pest Identification Technology Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 12 procedures, and Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is the exclusive manufacturer of the QX One instrument, making its authorized technicians the only qualified providers for maintenance and repairs. The maintenance plan requires two annual on-site preventative maintenance visits by manufacturer-authorized personnel, along with unlimited repair coverage including parts, labor, and travel to ensure operational continuity. The contract structure includes a one-year base period starting June 5, 2026, and four one-year option periods, with potential performance extending through June 4, 2031. The contract will be awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis under a highest technically rated methodology, where technical approach is the primary factor, and price and past performance serve as pass/fail criteria—no tradeoffs will be made. All responses must be submitted as capability statements via email to Latisha Hollman by June 4, 2026, and the government retains sole discretion to determine whether competition is warranted based on submissions. The contract incorporates a comprehensive suite of standard FAR and AGAR clauses, including mandatory requirements for active SAM.gov registration, compliance with anti-discrimination and DEI prohibitions under Executive Orders 14168 and 14173, whistleblower protections, prohibition on restrictive confidentiality agreements, and adherence to federal labor standards. Payment will be processed via electronic funds transfer through SAM.gov, and all performance must occur within the United States with no offshore data transfer. Security and compliance obligations include adherence to cybersecurity safeguards, safeguarding of government information systems, and certification that the contractor has no delinquent tax liabilities or felony convictions. No pricing information is publicly available in the presolicitation, and the $329,000 figure referenced is the estimated replacement value of the instrument, not the contract cost. No specific packaging, preservation, or labeling standards are detailed, and while inspection and acceptance occur on-site at the Fort Collins facility, quality assurance is based squarely on manufacturer protocols and OEM authorization. The contract includes no designated key personnel, security clearances, or organizational conflict of interest provisions, and the offeror's socioeconomic status is not solicited or required to be declared.