J -- INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE EXTENDED WARRANTY

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Western Laboratory plans to award a sole source firm fixed price purchase order to Varian Inc. for a comprehensive Warranty Service Extension Full Support Agreement. This agreement covers labor, travel, parts, and preventive maintenance visits related to the Varian LC/MS System. Included in the contract are a specific training course for the Varian LC/MS System, three days of on-site training, and installation services with factory options for the Triple Quad LC/MS 1200L Varian Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. The contract is designated as a commercial item under Part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and no alternative solicitation will be issued. Interested parties who can provide relevant information, quotes, capabilities statements, and past performance references corresponding to the requested services, training, and installation are invited to submit these materials to the contracting officer, Lorna L. Craig, within five days of the contract announcement. The contract supports maintenance and operational excellence for the sophisticated mass spectrometry instrumentation essential to the USDA’s food safety objectives, ensuring continued reliability and optimal performance at the Western Laboratory facility in Beltsville, Maryland.