Inverted Microscope

THIS IS A SPECIAL NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR SUBPART 19.804 PROCEDURES. THIS ACTION IS A 100% SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESS. FAR PART 13, SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES ARE UTILIZED IN THIS PROCUREMENT AS AUTHORIZED BY FAR SUBPART 13.5, TEST PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS. I. DESCRIPTION The National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with National Instruments Corporation under Other Than Full and Open Competition by authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirement s. This is a sole source requirement because there is only one qualified source with the ability to provide an inverted microscope that is fully compatible with existing NIST software and customer equipment. It has been verified through market research that the Carl Zeiss is the only inverted microscope fully compatible with the existing equipment. No solicitation package will be issued and this notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Inquiries will only be accepted via e-mail to contact@example.gov. The Government will consider responses received by 5:00PM EST, August 1, 2011. Written responses to this synopsis shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement. Determination not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is soley within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered soley for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. This notice of intent is not a Request For Quote (RFQ) nor is it a request for competition. No telephone requests will be honored. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541511, and the size standard is $25M. Requirement for active registration in CCR: each offeror must have an active registration at www.ccr.gov to be eligible to receive an award under this solicitation.