NOTICE OF INTENT-Deionized Water Systems Maintenance

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Neu-Ion, Inc., located in Baltimore, MD, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b), soliciting from a single source, for 11 Portable Deionized Water Systems Maintenance Base + 4 Option Years. Scope of Work: The contractor shall provide all labor and materials for maintaining eleven (11) existing deionized water systems in the NCNR laboratories: 1. The DI water systems that require maintenance are eleven (11) portable service deionized (DI) water systems. 2. The water purity requirements for the two types of systems are given below: a. The DI water systems provide water with a resistivity up to eighteen (18) megaohms- cm at twenty-five (25) degrees celcius and a minimum flow rate of three (3) liters per minute. 3. The Contractor shall provide onsite repairs for DI water systems within twenty-four (24) hours from the telephonic request. 4. The contractor shall change out the tanks and filter units three (3) times a year for each of the DI units. NIST's current configuration for the DI units are as follows: a. There are nine (9) existing DI systems with the following components: 10 5-micron pre- filter, 0.25 cf carbon filter, 0.45 cf type 1 mixed bed (2 tanks total), 0.2-micron post filter cartridge. b. There are two (2) existing DI systems with the following components: 20 5-micron pre- filter, 1.2 cf carbon filter, 1.2 cf type 1 mixed bed (2 tanks total), 20 0.2-micron post filter. The maintenance /service that shall be performed on all 11 DI water systems on a triannual basis must include: Record of the water quality Exchange of the Carbon tank Exchange of the mixed bad DI tank Replace pre-filter Replace post-filter 24-hour emergency service phone support and troubleshooting 8 hours of regular shift emergency service. All other emergency services will be billed at afterhours rate ($207.00/HR) This shall be provided and accomplished in accordance with these tasks. NAICS Code is 811310 - Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment, with a Size Standard of $12.5M. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Neu-Ion, Inc. for this requirement. Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used it is estimated that an award will be issued by 9/20/2023. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to contact@example.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to contact@example.gov no later than the date and time provided herein this posting. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AN OPEN COMPETITION: Market research resulted in Neu-Ion being the only vendor that can supply the 11 Portable Deionized Water Systems Maintenance Base + 4 Option Years. The DI water provided by the installed systems meet the requirements for Type II water and is used in many sample preparation techniques. In order to prevent a loss of service and support both user's and staff DI water requirements, a contract renewal with Neu-Ion Ultrapure Water Systems is required. The negative impact if NIST does not renew its contract with Neu-Ion is NIST would be required to purchase all new system components, uninstall the existing system and then install their components. This would increase the cost and cause a break in continuity of DI water for our users and staff .