High Throughput Complex Cell Co-Culture Systems

Six (6) Month Extension to EP-D-11-082 - High Throughput CO-Culture Cell Systems: Organ or Organism Culture Systems Intent to Sole Source: NAICS Code: 541712-Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a requirement for continuation of services under the current contract, EP-D-11-082, as described below. EP-D-11-082 expires on April 26, 2018. The Government intends to compete, negotiate, and award follow on services to this contract in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). However, the contract for follow on services will not be awarded prior to the expiration date of EP-D-11-082. The services under this contract are critical and cannot lapse. The EPA intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with Cyprotex US, LLC., 313 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, a modification to contract EP-D-11-082 to extend services under this contract, not to exceed six (6) additional months of service, until such time that the competition for the follow-on for High Throughput CO-Culture Cell Systems: Organ or Organism Culture Systems contract is completed and a follow-on contract is awarded. Cyprotex US, LLC. currently provides high throughput screening of the Toxcast Compound Library using complex cell, organ or organism culture systems for the EPA's National Center for Computational Toxicology (NCCT) Laboratory, located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, under contract EP-D-11-082 and has provided these services and support under said contract since July 2011. The continuity that Cyprotex US, LLC's services will provide are critical to ORD research priorities and to ensure continuity of research. There are no other entities that have the capability of providing the level, breadth, and depth of support that are required by the EPA NCCT in order to continue critical research activities with the least amount of disruption in a short period of time on a temporary basis. Cyprotex US, LLC. is best suited for continuing to provide the above indicated services and support for the requested six (6) month extension as they have the necessary infrastructure, personnel, supplies, and subcontractors already in place, fully functioning, and doing so will guarantee continuity of services for the EPA NCCT research activities while the Government completes the competition and award for the follow-on High Throughput CO-Culture Cell Systems: Organ or Organism Culture Systems contract. The Government is not stating that there are no other contractors who can provide these technical support services. The Government understands that there are other companies that provide similar High Throughput CO-Culture Cell Systems: Organ or Organism Culture Systems services. The Government is instead saying that considering the short period of performance contemplated within this extension and that the five year follow on contract award will be competed amongst eligible, qualified companies, that no other contractors could transition this workload from Cyprotex US, LLC. and efficiently continue performance without potential reduced services, increased costs, and unnecessary risks to the Government. This six (6) month extension of services is not an attempt by the Government to limit competition to the incumbent contractor but to provide additional time to complete the evaluation of proposals received and the award of a follow-on contract. In accordance with FAR Part 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the Agency. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the direction of the Government. This notice will be posted for 15 days. The intent of this synopsis is to state the Government's intention to sole source this requirement and to determine if any other source(s) exist; and, therefore, no solicitation is available. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required service should: 1) fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing and submit same via FedConnect, a government web portal, within 15 days from the date of this announcement; and 2) must submit itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. Consequently, any responder(s) failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing merely to submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will not be honored. Offerors must submit all technical questions / responses concerning this synopsis electronically through FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect/. The synopsis, amendments, and other information related to this procurement as well as any subsequent procurement notifications will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website at: www.fbo.gov and the Fedconnect website at: https://www.fedconnect.net/ . At this time phone calls related to this procurement are not being accepted.